Kermisgezelschap op een landweg met verderop een dorpskermis 1865

This print, made by Ferdinand Roybet, depicts a Kermisgezelschap, a carnival group, on a country road with a village fair in the distance. The image offers a window into the social fabric of 19th-century Europe, perhaps France, where Roybet spent his career. The print visualizes the itinerant nature of popular entertainment at that time. A troupe of performers, musicians, and their families likely move from village to village, bringing revelry to rural communities. The figures seem to be weighed down by the implements of their trade, while the presence of children suggests both the familial nature of these companies and the hardship of the lifestyle. Roybet's print not only captures a slice of social life but also alludes to the changing nature of leisure and the increasing commodification of entertainment. By examining such prints, alongside archival materials, we can better understand the cultural economy of 19th-century Europe.