Straatverkoper met gebak c. 1736

This print was made by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, probably in France, sometime in the mid-18th century. It depicts a street vendor kneeling before a young, well-dressed boy who holds a tray. The vendor appears to be selling pastries, and this transaction is the central focus. What's compelling here is the way this image speaks to the rigid social hierarchies of the time. Le Bas captures a fleeting moment of commerce, but it's framed by the clear distinctions of class. The vendor's humble posture contrasts sharply with the boy's upright stance and fine clothing. The setting, with its doorway and lush foliage, further suggests a world of domestic comfort and privilege that is inaccessible to the vendor. To understand this image more fully, we could turn to archival sources, like records of street vendors in 18th-century Paris, or perhaps conduct research into the period's clothing and social customs. Only through careful investigation of its historical context can we grasp the full meaning of this seemingly simple scene.