Flour Sifter!, plate 34 - Simon Guillain

A seventeenth-century etching depicting a tradesman with a flour sifter, part of the 'Le Arti di Bologna' series after Annibale Carracci.

This etching, plate 34 from the series 'Le Arti di Bologna', depicts a street vendor or tradesman carrying a large, circular flour sifter. Simon Guillain produced this series in 1646, basing his compositions on the earlier drawings of Annibale Carracci. The work captures the everyday life of seventeenth-century Bologna, focusing on the specific tools and attire associated with various urban occupations.

Guillain employs a clean, linear etching style. The figure is shown in profile, walking with a steady gait. The artist uses cross-hatching to define the volume of the clothing and the texture of the sifter, while the background remains sparse to keep the focus on the subject. The inclusion of the number 34 in the lower corner identifies its place within the larger catalogue of trades. The inscription 'Anib. Carac. In' acknowledges the original design by Annibale Carracci, while 'Sim. Guillain sc' confirms Guillain as the printmaker.

This print provides a window into the social history of the period. It documents the appearance of common labourers, their tools, and the modest garments worn during daily work. The simplicity of the composition reflects the objective nature of these street-life studies, which were popular among collectors interested in the variety of human types found in Italian cities. The work is a clear example of the collaborative nature of print production in the seventeenth century, where the skills of a draughtsman and an etcher combined to document the world around them. The print is presented on high-quality archival paper, preserving the fine lines and the historical character of the original etching.