Rubbish Hauler (Plate 49) - Simon Guillain

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Simon Guillain depicting a labourer at work, captured with precise line work and anatomical focus.

This etching by the French sculptor and printmaker Simon Guillain captures a moment of manual labour in seventeenth-century Paris. As part of a series documenting the various trades and street figures of the era, the work provides a direct observation of a worker engaged in the task of clearing refuse. The figure is depicted in a crouched, dynamic posture, using a small broom and dustpan to collect debris from the ground. Guillain employs a precise etching technique, utilising varied line weights to define the musculature of the worker and the texture of his simple clothing. The background remains minimal, suggesting an urban environment without distracting from the primary subject. The composition focuses on the physical exertion required for the task, presenting the worker with a sense of grounded reality. The inclusion of the plate number 49 in the lower corner identifies this as a specific entry in a larger collection of prints that catalogued the social strata of the period. Such works were often produced to document the daily life of the city, offering a view into the roles performed by those outside the aristocracy. The artist, primarily known for his sculptural contributions to the decoration of the Pont au Change in Paris, demonstrates a keen eye for anatomical accuracy and movement in this print. The etching reflects the broader interest in genre subjects that occupied many artists during the mid-seventeenth century. By isolating the figure against a sparse backdrop, Guillain directs the viewer to the mechanics of the labour itself. This print serves as a historical record of urban maintenance and the visual culture of the Baroque era in France, maintaining a clear, objective perspective on its subject.