head at a table with a Bible, bowl of soup, and loaf of bread:


First, this isn’t a painting. It’s a black and white photograph that was later colorized by the photographer’s daughter into a few versions using paint.

The picture was taken by a man named Eric Enstrom in Minnesota back in 1918. He was in his photography studio trying to come up with ideas for pictures to bring to a show when the local town drunk named Charles Wilden knocked on his door to try to sell him something. Instead, Enstrom offered to pay him to pose for a picture. He agreed, so Enstrom quickly arranged a few props and took the picture. The “Bible” on the table is turned so you can’t see the title or spine because it’s actually a dictionary.

The photo was an immediate hit and started selling. A few years later Enstrom tracked Wilden down and paid him $5 for all rights to the image. He and his daughter then continued to earn money from the photo (and it’s colorized variants) for the rest of their lives.