Discover 18th-Century Life: Drawings of the Common People of Vienna Exhibition

This collection, "Drawings of the 'Common People of Vienna' (from 1775)", features a series of copperplate engravings inspired by drawings from Johann Christian Brand. Originating from the Vienna Art Academy, these works were among the first graphic series to focus on the daily lives and trades of ordinary Viennese citizens.

The "Drawings of the 'Common People of Vienna' (from 1775)" collection showcases a significant series of copperplate engravings that emerged from the Vienna Art Academy, inspired by the drawings of Johann Christian Brand. These works, which began appearing from 1775, marked a pivotal moment in graphic art by centering the "common people of Vienna" in a dedicated series for the first time. Following the style of English and French precedents, the depictions feature itinerant merchants, artisans, and market vendors, often identified by their characteristic product "calls." These engravings established a genre of typological depictions of professions that remained popular well into the 20th century. The series includes detailed representations of various trades and street sellers, such as ink sellers, onion vendors, flower girls, brush sellers, salami vendors, and many more. Each print, often accompanied by French descriptions, provides a visual record of the diverse urban life and economic activities in Vienna during that era. The collection highlights not only the artistic merit but also the historical and sociological value of these engravings in documenting the everyday existence of the city's working population.