Whirligig Peddler 1742

Anne Claude Philippe Caylus's *Whirligig Peddler*, a 1742 etching, depicts a street vendor carrying a basket of whirligigs, small toys that spin in the wind. The vendor, dressed in a long coat and hat, holds a whirligig in his hand, showcasing its intricate design. Caylus, a prominent figure in the French Rococo movement, was known for his interest in everyday life, capturing the details of the Parisian streets through his prints. The artist's sharp attention to detail is evident in the textures of the vendor's clothing and the intricate forms of the whirligigs. Caylus's work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, provides a glimpse into the social landscape of 18th-century France.