Tinsmith, plate 12 - Simon Guillain

A seventeenth-century etching by Simon Guillain depicting a street tinsmith, part of the 'Les Cris de Bologne' series after Annibale Carracci.

This etching, plate 12 from the series 'Les Cris de Bologne' (The Cries of Bologna), depicts a street vendor carrying his wares. Simon Guillain, a French sculptor and printmaker, produced this series after designs by Annibale Carracci. The work captures the daily life of the urban working class in seventeenth-century Italy. The figure is shown in a standing pose, wearing a simple hat and tunic, with a basket of metal goods strapped to his side and additional items held in his hand.

The etching technique employs cross-hatching to define the volume of the figure and the texture of the basket. The background is sparse, featuring a simplified architectural silhouette that suggests a town setting without distracting from the primary subject. The lines are precise, reflecting the influence of Carracci's observational style. Guillain's work provides a record of the itinerant tradespeople who populated the streets of Bologna during this period. The composition is balanced, placing the vendor centrally against a light, open sky.

This print belongs to a broader tradition of 'cries' series, which were popular in European print culture for documenting regional costumes and occupations. The focus remains on the functional aspects of the vendor's life, from the tools of his trade to his practical attire. The print is marked with the number 12 at the bottom, identifying its place within the original publication sequence. The signature 'Anib Car In' acknowledges the design source, while 'S G Sc' denotes Guillain as the engraver. This piece offers a glimpse into the social history of the era through the lens of early modern printmaking.