Artwork
An Image Seller
An Image Seller is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
An Image Seller is a watercolour caricature created by Thomas Rowlandson in 1799, depicting a street vendor offering plaster statuettes.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows a city street with a vendor balancing a board of small figurines on his head, interacting with potential customers, while a peep show operates in the background.
Technique & Style
The watercolour features loose, rapid lines and imperfect shapes, conveying a sense of energy and capturing a moment of everyday life.
Context
The work reflects Rowlandson's observation of urban life, using satire and caricature to portray the interactions between vendors and passersby.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 1757 – 21 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation.
