Portret van William Smith, prentverkoper te Londen 1836

Samuel Freeman created this undated print of William Smith, a London printseller, using engraving. Smith's profession is clearly labeled, placing it in the context of London's 19th-century print market, a booming trade that catered to a growing middle class. Prints like these were affordable ways to own or circulate images, democratizing art ownership beyond the elite. The inscription identifying Smith's address connects the image to a specific location in the city, embedding it in a network of commerce and exchange. We can study the history of printmaking, the economics of the art market, and the social function of portraiture to understand the cultural significance of images like these. Such historical research allows us to examine the broader social and institutional context in which this portrait was created and consumed.