Mendigos que se llevan solos en Bordeaux (Beggars Who Get about on Their Own in Bordeaux)

Mendigos que se llevan solos en Bordeaux (Beggars Who Get about on Their Own in Bordeaux) by Francisco Goya is a profound example of the artist's late drawing style, executed during his self-imposed exile in France between 1824 and 1827. This drawing utilizes black chalk applied directly to a piece of greenish laid paper, a humble combination of materials that allowed Goya to pursue observational sketches with raw intimacy and immediacy.

The work belongs to a significant series of drawings the artist created late in his life, often compiled in personal albums. They reflect Goya’s observational approach to the social realities of Bordeaux, moving beyond the grand political and war themes of his earlier Spanish output. The subject matter focuses squarely on the marginalized figures of the city: beggars who, as the title suggests, manage their lives independently. Goya uses the thick, expressive lines of the black chalk to convey volume and texture, lending these figures a robust, almost sculptural presence despite the modest scale and medium.

This piece underscores Goya’s final shift toward profound human character studies. Executed toward the end of the period spanning 1801 to 1825, the drawing is intrinsically linked to the enduring influence of Spanish culture on the artist, even while he was living abroad. The composition often highlights the isolation and dignity of the subjects, reflecting the artist’s lifelong commitment to critiquing social injustice.

This important drawing, Mendigos que se llevan solos en Bordeaux (Beggars Who Get about on Their Own in Bordeaux), is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. As key works from this historical era often enter the public domain, the study and appreciation of Goya’s insightful observations are preserved through the availability of high-quality prints and reproductions.