Reverse copy of Balais Balais (Brushes Brushes), from Le Cris de Paris (The Cries of Paris), plate 5 1722 - 1783

This is Jacques Philippe Le Bas’s "Reverse copy of Balais Balais (Brushes Brushes)", an engraving on paper. The print shows a man pulling a small cart loaded with brooms, his posture slightly bent, suggesting the weight of his load. The scene is rendered with a delicate network of fine lines, and the background is simply sketched in. Notice how the composition directs our gaze. The architectural elements on the right act almost as a frame, pushing our attention towards the interaction between the vendor and the dog. The use of reversed imagery is fascinating, and highlights the complexities inherent in reproduction. The reversed image invites a reconsideration of authenticity and originality. Is it merely a copy, or does the act of reversal imbue it with a new identity? The detailed lines and shading also invite a re-evaluation of the everyday and the overlooked.