A seventeenth-century etching from the 'Les Cris de Paris' series, depicting a street vendor carrying his woven wares through the city.

This etching is plate 8 from the series 'Les Cris de Paris' (The Cries of Paris), a collection of prints documenting the street vendors and tradespeople of seventeenth-century Paris. Simon Guillain, a sculptor and printmaker, captured the daily life of the city with a focus on the physical labour of the working class. The figure depicted is a basket-maker, shown carrying a large load of woven wares on his back while holding additional baskets in his hands. His posture suggests the weight of his inventory, and his gaze is directed upward, perhaps toward potential customers in the urban environment.

Guillain employs a clear, linear style typical of the period. The cross-hatching technique provides texture to the baskets and the clothing, while the background remains minimal, featuring only a faint architectural outline to suggest a city setting. This approach keeps the focus entirely on the individual and his trade. The series serves as a historical record of the social hierarchy and the informal economy of the era. By documenting these figures, Guillain provided a view into the streets of Paris that was often overlooked in more formal portraiture or religious art.

As a museum-grade fine art print, this work offers a glimpse into the history of printmaking and the social history of France. The composition is balanced, with the weight of the baskets counteracting the forward motion of the figure. The etching process allows for fine detail in the woven patterns of the baskets, demonstrating the technical skill of the artist. This print is suitable for those interested in historical documentation, the evolution of urban life, or the development of the etching medium during the Baroque period.