Cries of London, No. 7, Old Clothes 1799

This print, "Cries of London, No. 7, Old Clothes," was made in the late 1700s, by Henri Merke, using etching and aquatint. These printing methods allowed for the creation of detailed lines and tonal effects, perfectly capturing the textures of both the figures and the garments they are bartering. This wasn't fine art in the traditional sense; it was a commercial product, intended for wide distribution. The focus on the exchange of old clothes speaks volumes about the economic realities of the time. Notice the contrast in clothing between the well-dressed woman at the door, and the rag dealers who are trying to sell to her. The print is directly addressing the underbelly of London's burgeoning consumer culture, highlighting the labor and trade that sustained all levels of society. The print invites us to consider the lives of those who made a living by collecting and recycling the cast-offs of others. It challenges any neat division between art and social commentary.