Man probeert de krant te lezen van de rug van een krantenjongen 1814

This print, "Man probeert de krant te lezen van de rug van een krantenjongen" (Man tries to read the newspaper from the back of a newsboy), was made by Pierre Maleuvre using etching and stipple engraving, and then hand-colored. The image hinges on a familiar division: that between the haves and have-nots. The newsboy represents labor, delivering information to the public; meanwhile, the gentleman is after information, but without paying for it. The labor of producing and distributing the news, implied in the newsboy's labor, is contrasted with the gentleman’s parasitic desire to consume it freely. The linear precision, which defines the figures, is a testament to the skilled labor involved in its production, both manual and intellectual. The labor of the hand-coloring, adding layers of detail and definition, further emphasizes the value added through skilled craftsmanship. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand not just the aesthetic qualities of the artwork but also the social dynamics and power structures it reflects.