Straatverkoper van Weynen papier 1833

Auguste Raffet created this lithograph, “Street vendor of Weynen paper,” in Paris sometime in the early to mid-19th century. Raffet’s print encapsulates the burgeoning culture of print media and street commerce that characterized the period. The vendor, in his distinctive hat and uniform-like attire, presents himself as both a salesman and a spectacle. “Papiers Weynen” are emblazoned on his hat and boxes, turning him into a walking advertisement. The bustling Parisian street serves as a backdrop, filled with figures from various social classes. Raffet captures a moment in the city's transformation, as commercial activity increasingly spilled into the public sphere. To fully understand this image, one might consider the history of advertising and the development of street vending as a profession in 19th-century Paris. We can look into archives and trade publications to see how mass media shaped social life during this time. The social history of art reminds us that images like this one reflect and shape the world around them.