Cries of London, No. 5: Come Buy My Watercresses 1799

Henri Merke created this print, Come Buy My Watercresses, around the turn of the 19th century. In it, the watercress vendor presents her wares, an offering of nature's bounty right at the doorstep. Notice the cherubic figures peeking from the window above. These ethereal beings, common in Renaissance art, have roots in classical mythology and often symbolize divine favor. These figures remind me of similar motifs found in earlier works, like Raphael’s cherubs. Yet, here, they are somewhat secularized, gazing upon a scene of everyday commerce. Consider the watercress itself, a symbol of sustenance and simple living. Watercress’s appearance in art transcends time, shifting from religious allegory to a representation of the common person’s life and struggles. The gesture of offering, seen in the vendor’s outstretched hand, evokes a sense of giving and receiving. It taps into our primal instincts of sharing resources, stirring a sense of connection. This everyday scene transforms into a tableau of human interaction. This simple exchange is a potent, recurring image in the collective unconscious.