Gezicht op het interieur van de Royal Exchange te Londen 1745 - 1775

This print, made by Jean-François Daumont, shows the Royal Exchange in London. Look closely and you’ll see it’s made of lines and dots, created through a printing process. This technique meant that images could be reproduced on a mass scale. The lines create the impression of architecture and the gathering crowds. The print's hand-coloring transforms the everyday attire into a lively display. What interests me most about this image is the Royal Exchange, where merchants gathered to trade. This building and the print of it, stand as symbols of emerging global capitalism in the 18th century. By examining the artistry and printing process, we recognize how it mirrors the economic processes of the time. It also prompts us to think about the circulation of money alongside images, and how both of these activities shape our world.