Straatverkoper met een kraam vol kunst houdt een man staande 1811 - 1866

Victor Adam made this print of an art vendor, showing a scene of commerce in action. It is a lithograph, a printmaking technique that uses the naturally occurring resistance between grease and water. The artist would have drawn on a flat stone surface with a greasy crayon, then treated it with acid. The stone is then wet, and greasy ink adheres only to the drawn areas, allowing the image to be printed. This print conveys a sense of everyday commerce, making art accessible to a wider audience. We can see the vendor’s makeshift stall constructed from simple materials, displaying various artworks. They seem to be quickly produced drawings, and one framed piece, perhaps indicative of the range of goods on offer. The act of selling becomes a transaction, as the vendor and the potential buyer shake hands. The print implies a democratization of art, available to be purchased by all, rather than commissioned by the elite. It challenges traditional notions of fine art by depicting art as a commodity traded in public.