Colleur (Billposter) 1798 - 1807

Jean Duplessis-Bertaux created this print called ‘Colleur,’ or Billposter, using etching. The image shows a billposter at work, pasting announcements onto a wall in what appears to be late 18th century France. Here, Duplessis-Bertaux captures a slice of everyday life and work, elevating it to the level of art. We can see a hierarchy in the image, between the working-class billposter and the well-to-do onlookers on the right, distinguished by their dress. This image subtly comments on the rigid social structures of the time. As a work of art, it reflects the growing importance of public communication through printed media and the labor involved in disseminating information. The work is a valuable historical record and a commentary on the social landscape of its time. Historians can use sources such as period newspapers, social commentaries, and records of the printing industry to enrich our understanding of this image and its context.