Straatverkopers 1822 - 1849

This print, Straatverkopers, by Jan de Lange the second, was made in the Netherlands. The precise date is unknown, but it was likely produced in the first half of the 19th century. It's a lithograph, meaning it was printed from a stone surface, and then hand colored. The figures represent street vendors, each shown with their wares. Look closely, and you can see the textures created by the lithographic process, especially in the areas of shading. The material of the print – humble paper – speaks to its function. This wasn't high art, destined for a museum. It was a commercial product, made in multiples, meant to be sold and consumed by a broad public. Prints like this offer a fascinating glimpse into the economy of the era, documenting the labor of ordinary people. They remind us that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex social and economic forces, connecting the artist, the printer, the vendors, and the consumers in a web of exchange.