The Little Matchstick Salesman (1900's)

Toscano, Giovanni (1864 - 1924)

The Little Matchstick Salesman

Oil on Board: 10" x 6"
Catalog# TOSG-001

Early 1900's

A poor boy stands against a whitewashed, stucco brick wall selling boxes of matches. He dons a simple black hat placed against the back of his head, revealing short strawberry-blonde hair. His clothes are tattered and patched and his pose and posture suggests he has quite a history for his young age as a little salesman. The shallow box rests against his pot-belly and as is held by a simple rope around his neck. His expression is empty, yet a little sad as the viewers know as well as he that this poverty is to be his lot in life.

The backdrop is plain and non-dimensional. The lines of the sidewalk are clean and simple, leading to two rows of brick revealed under the worn stucco.