Genre scenes of young beggars were among Johann Seekatz's most popular subjects. They reveal his gradual break with the Dutch Italianate depiction of peasant life, and his gentle seduction by the more romantic interpretation of poverty produced by the French artists of the 18th century. Autograph versions of each painting, of similar size, which were offered for sale with Weinmuller, Munich, June 1-2, 1949, lot 617 and Paul Graupe, Berlin, April 19-20, 1933, lot 631, respectively, attest to the successful nature of the present compositions. A painting of A young Girl and a Beggar by the artist is in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Inv. no. 9497.