Poor Joe (alternative titles: Homeless and Night in Town)

Oscar Gustave Rejlander (1813-1875)

Negative c.1860; print later

Carbon print; object No. 84.XA.828.6.13

20 × 15.1 cm (7 7/8 × 5 15/16 in.) but here cropped from page surround

Source: the J. Paul Getty Museum (Open Content program)

Described on the museum's site as follows: "A mirrored reproduction of Rejlander's portrait of a young boy in rags. The boy is curled up on a set of steps, his head buried in his arms which are crossed over his knees. His trousers are tattered and his shirt is falling off his shoulder." [Commentary continues below.]

Image and caption download, and discussion below, by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]