Brieflezer c. 1745 - 1767

Charles Spooner made this mezzotint, called Brieflezer, sometime in the mid-18th century. It portrays a man, possibly a lawyer, engrossed in reading a letter, his expression suggesting a mix of concentration and perhaps mild bewilderment. The print offers a glimpse into the social and institutional life of 18th-century England. The man's attire and the presence of the letter allude to literacy and the growing importance of legal and bureaucratic systems. Note how the artist places the subject against a dark background, drawing our eye to the text he holds. The term "L. AW." inscribed beneath the image, hints at the subject's profession. It is important to remember the professional guilds and learned societies of the time, and we might also consider visual and literary satires that question the integrity of legal institutions. To truly understand this work, we can delve into the history of mezzotint printing and its role in disseminating images, while exploring the changing status of professionals in England. This print invites us to consider how art reflects, reinforces, and sometimes critiques the social structures of its time.