The Pinch of Poverty

- What are the major contributing factors to poverty? Job layoffs, lack of education, inflation, and multiple family members to provide for.
- How does the artist portray poverty (positive/negative light)? I think that the artist portrays poverty in a negative sense, as all of the figures have sad expressions on their faces, along with the fact that the background is very gloomy.
- What is the artist's message about poverty? Poverty is imprisoning and difficult to escape, yet those who keep hope and work hard may indeed escape.
-Identify and explain two elements of art that enhance the message: One element of art that enhances the message is the positioning of the flower in the little boy's hand. The flower in the boy's hand is pointed downward, in contrast to the little girl, as if he has lost all hope and has no chance of escaping poverty. Another element of art that enhances the message is the colors that are used in the painting. The colors are the reason that the audience gets the gloomy and sad feeling while looking at the painting, this affects the audiences view of poverty as being hopeless.