Reclamebiljet voor producten van Rudolph Ackermann bij Eclipse Sporting and Military Gallery before 1906

This advertisement for Rudolph Ackermann’s print shop, made by George Barclay, offers a glimpse into the cultural milieu of early 19th-century London. Ackermann was a major figure in the London art world as a printseller, publisher, and purveyor of artist’s materials. This advertisement reflects the class dynamics of the time. Ackermann catered to the tastes of the British aristocracy with prints of fashionable scenes and offered drawing lessons to young ladies of means. Yet, the advertisement also seeks to cultivate a broader clientele, enticing tradesmen, merchants and captains of ships with a variety of supplies. The inclusion of materials for technical drawing—maps and railroad plans—suggests an effort to appeal to those involved in the industrial and technological developments that were reshaping British society. Consider the relationship between art, commerce, and social mobility. The advertisement reflects the shifting relationship between art and industry, and the burgeoning market for art supplies and instruction.