Cries of London, No. 6: All a growing, here's Flowers 1799

Henri Merke made this print, Cries of London, No. 6, using etching and stipple engraving, processes involving the precise manipulation of metal plates. Lines and textures were bitten into the metal with acid, then inked and printed, leaving an impression on paper. The technique allows for fine detail, seen in the rendering of figures and the architectural backdrop. The added color, likely applied by hand, enlivens the scene, highlighting the contrast between the flower seller and his customers. This wasn't just a work of art; it was a commodity, made to be sold and distributed, one of a series depicting London's street vendors. The print captures a moment of economic exchange, hinting at the labor and trade that sustained the city, reducing working-class people to charming vignettes. The very act of producing and selling prints like these reflects the era's burgeoning consumer culture. It reminds us that art is not separate from the world of work and commerce.