Man vertoont prenten op een podium 1743 - 1805

This etching, "Man vertoont prenten op een podium" (Man Shows Pictures on a Stage), by Johann Wilhelm (the Younger) Meil depicts a street performer entertaining a crowd with a series of illustrated panels. The scene showcases a popular 18th-century form of entertainment and likely depicts a "showman" illustrating tales from popular folklore, literature, or current events, which would have been common in German-speaking regions at the time. The image emphasizes the lively and engaging nature of these early forms of visual storytelling, highlighting the importance of performance and spectacle in 18th-century popular culture.