Malnourished means the artists were thin and not well-fed. The artists did not make much money, and their work could not even support them. It is well-known that there are many "starvinig" artists, "starving" actors and writers. Only the very best ones do well and make a lot of money from their skill or profession. Many artists keep working, with the hope that some day they will become famous, but for now, they don't sell many art pieces...and they might look thin and malnourished, which is not very healthy.

Malnourished means that you haven't been eating and your health is starting to suffer. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are hungry at that exact moment. You could eat a meal and no longer feel hungry, but still be malnourished because you were not eating well for the last few weeks -- lost weight, not enough protein or vitamins, etc. To Nourish = to make something healthy by feeding it Mal = bad (in French)

malnourished= very hungry almost starving