Life of a wastrel
Madrid: Sucesores de Hernando, [1880–1924]

Despite clear support and guidance from his parents, the puzzling example of this ‘wastrel’ (calavera) is of a man who goes from bad to worse. It is noteworthy that no punishment is received; on the contrary, this man is given endless support, even in his final illness. This is a wasted life, rather than a deliberately criminal one. Images, text, and the social activities portrayed here all suggest that this item comes from the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Tab.b.722.29