The Lantern in Winter, Water in Summer 1737

"The Lantern in Winter, Water in Summer" is an etching by Anne Claude Philippe Caylus, a prominent figure in the French Rococo era. The artwork, created in 1737, depicts a man in 18th-century attire, seemingly walking away from the viewer. The subject, a street vendor, is depicted from behind holding a lantern and a bell, signifying his trade. This etching, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the daily life of the French working class during this period, a subject Caylus frequently explored through his art.