Pratende reizigers 1718 - 1781

Christian Rugendas created this etching, "Pratende Reizigers," meaning "Talking Travelers," in Augsburg sometime in the 18th century, a time when Augsburg was a hub for printmaking. The image depicts a group of travelers paused by the roadside, with a city visible in the distance. The figures, their gestures, and the landscape are rendered in great detail, offering insight into the culture of travel and leisure in the 1700s. But what does it mean to talk of travelers? Well, the rise of the print market in Augsburg coincided with the expansion of trade routes and the rise of a merchant class. This print would have been circulated among these merchants, and others, to serve as a form of social commentary about these changing classes. To understand the print more fully, one might consult archives from the period, such as guild records, business ledgers, or travel logs. These resources would shed light on the print's status as a commodity, as well as the social and economic forces that shaped its production and reception.