The Misery (1886) by Cristóbal Rojas Poleo is a haunting portrayal of human suffering and social neglect. Painted during the artist's stay in Paris, the work captures a moment of intense despair inside a dim, sparsely furnished room. At its center lies a dying woman—emaciated, pale, and draped in white—while another figure, possibly her husband, slumps hopelessly beside her. The muted palette and chiaroscuro lighting heighten the sense of desolation, evoking themes of poverty, illness, and emotional collapse. Influenced by Realism and the humanitarian concerns of the time, Rojas channels his own experiences with disease and exile into a deeply empathetic scene that not only mourns the individual tragedy but also indicts the broader societal indifference to human suffering.