Artist: James McNeill Whistler Date: 1854/1855 Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY Accession Number: 1970.121.46 Medium: pencil, pen and dark brown ink Support: beige wove paper, the edges unevenly cut, laid down on card Size: 3 x 1 5/26-1 5/8" (75 x 33-41 mm) Signature: none Inscription: 'Pour boire' on support sheet
The subject is a man begging money for a drink. His short hair stands on end. He wears a long jacket with huge cuffs decorated with large buttons, over skinny trousers, and carries a hat apparently decorated with a broken feather or ribbon.