Verkoper van rattengif 1781

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine produced this print called 'Verkoper van rattengif' - or 'Seller of Rat Poison' - during a period of political upheaval in Europe. It shows an itinerant vendor of rat poison, a common sight in the cities of Europe at the time. The image creates meaning through the use of stereotypes. Note the vendor's exaggerated clothing and theatrical pose. This visual code suggests the kind of trickster figure that was often found in popular entertainments. Norblin de la Gourdaine was a French artist who spent much of his career in Poland, where he became a court painter. His career moved between the royal court and more popular forms of art such as printmaking. The image reflects a fascination with popular culture, but also perhaps a certain suspicion of it. Historians draw on a range of documentary sources to interpret images like this. These can include contemporary accounts of street life, popular songs and plays, and records of police activity. These resources can help us to understand the social context in which art is made and consumed.