Mary Riter Hamilton's Venetian Beggar, painted circa 1910, juxtaposes Venice's world-renowned beauty with stark human suffering.
Hamilton's piece evokes universal empathy by portraying human vulnerability in a famously picturesque locale.
We are challenged as observers to reflect on societal inequalities and the human condition.
In this way Hamilton creates a powerful contrast between the city's glamorous reputation and the harsh realities faced by marginalized people.