Eugène Atget, Chiffonier - Getty Museum

In this poignant image, a chiffonier [sic; french:chiffonnnier], or ragpicker, pulls his horseless cart through the Paris streets. The deep shadow that conceals half the vendor's face amplifies the intense expression created by his furrowed brow. Despite being notoriously independent and proud, ragpickers were outcasts in the view of French society.
The ragpicker was one of many street vendors photographed by Eugène Atget for his collection of "documents for artists." Used by engravers and graphic artists, the photographs illustrated a large assortment of trades, from produce vendors and umbrella peddlers to cutlery sharpeners and asphalt layers.

Eugene Atget, the French photographer, is best known for his photographs of the architecture and street scenes of Paris, France, late 19th and early 20th centuries. He captured the city's architecture and daily life. His work has been celebrated for its historical importance. Atget's work was rediscovered by American photographer Berenice Abbott.