Trade card 1800 - 1900

This anonymous trade card was created sometime in the eighteenth century using etching. It depicts the interior of a print shop. Here we see two figures at work: one is bent over a desk making drawings, while the other operates a printing press. Note how the setting is ornamented with framed pictures. These details suggest that printing was regarded as a sophisticated trade. This was the era of the Enlightenment, when literacy and the circulation of printed matter were transforming social and political life. Examining documents from the period can reveal more about the institutions and the social structures that shaped the production and consumption of printed materials. By studying the trade practices, the social status of artisans, and the impact of print on public discourse, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between art, society, and the world of commerce.