Professions & Trades · 19th century
€ 300
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Very good condition. Light age-related toning with some minor foxing in the margins, not affecting the image. Blank verso. Please examine images carefully.
Mexican Market Vendor and Charcoal Seller – Hand-Colored Engraving, 1867
This finely hand-colored 19th-century engraving, from the “Types Mexicains” series, depicts two traditional Mexican figures: an indigenous man returning from the market (Indien revenant du marché) and a woman carrying a heavy load of charcoal for sale (la marchande de charbon). Published in Louis Énault’s L’Amérique centrale et méridionale (Paris, 1867), the print was engraved by Ferdinand Delannoy after a drawing by Gustave Janet.
The composition shows the two figures meeting along a rural path. The man is bent forward under the weight of his goods, a bundle carried across his back with additional items suspended from a wooden frame. His straw hat and simple attire reflect his indigenous background and practical adaptation to the climate. Opposite him, the woman carries a towering bundle of charcoal tied to her back, balanced with the aid of a staff. Her layered skirt, white blouse, and striped headscarf add a vivid ethnographic detail, capturing the traditional dress of working women in 19th-century Mexico.
These “types” engravings were designed to provide European readers with images of everyday occupations and costumes, combining ethnographic record with artistic appeal. They are now valued as rare cultural documents of Mexican social history during the mid-19th century.
For collectors of Latin American history, ethnographic art, and hand-colored 19th-century prints, this engraving offers both historic insight and strong decorative appeal.
Condition report: Very good condition. Light age-related toning with some minor foxing in the margins, not affecting the image. Blank verso. Please examine images carefully.
Framing tips: A wide ivory or cream mount will highlight the delicate hand coloring. A natural or dark wood frame pairs well with the earthy tones of the scene, while a gilt frame lends a more formal, decorative quality. Double matting with a thin green or terracotta line would enhance the natural and rustic atmosphere.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Maker: Ferdinand Delannoy (sc.), after Gustave Janet, published in Paris, 1867
