The Vagabonds

The Vagabonds is a powerful lithograph created in 1896 by the French Impressionist master Camille Pissarro (1830-1903). This black-and-white print, rendered on cream laid paper, exemplifies Pissarro’s later career focus on social themes and his dedication to the graphic arts as a medium for public commentary. The edition was notably published by Jean Grave, a prominent Parisian anarchist writer and publisher, immediately lending the piece a significant political and activist context within France.

Pissarro, known for his politically progressive sympathies, frequently turned his gaze toward working-class and marginalized subjects. This image depicts the severe hardships faced by impoverished individuals, moving beyond traditional genre scenes to create a direct statement about societal inequalities in the 1890s. The artist utilized the expressive qualities of lithography, employing stark contrasts and defined shading to emphasize the rough textures and the demanding nature of the figures’ lives.

As a versatile and accessible medium, prints like this allowed Pissarro’s work to reach a broader audience than his high-profile painted canvases. The subject matter directly aligned with the goals of Grave’s publications, which aimed to address poverty and advocate for social reform. This significant example of Pissarro’s socially conscious graphic output is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its age and historical importance, related prints and studies from this period are often considered key examples of public domain artwork, further solidifying the legacy of Pissarro’s commitment to radical art.