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Picturesque Sketches of London - Street Sights, 1850. Creator: Unknown
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Picturesque Sketches of London - Street Sights, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Picturesque Sketches of London - Street Sights, 1850. A...balancer...takes a ladder, high enough to reach a second-floor window, and up it goes on his chin, as if it were no heavier than the straw he has just thrown down...Look at that little girl in the spangled frock...she is brought out, like another Samson to make sport for the Philistines. How prettily she dances...For our part we look on these street performers with a very lenient eye, knowing that they are struggling to live in the best way they can, and that their humble endeavours to please afford amusement to thousands'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850
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Media ID 36198084
© The Print Collector/Heritage Images
Acrobat Balancing Balancing Act Busker Buskers Busking Crowds Entertainer Entertainers Ladder Londoner Londoners Street Entertainer Tights Top Hat Top Hats Tophat
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Picturesque Sketches of London - Street Sights, 1850" is an enchanting and evocative print depicting the vibrant street life of Victorian London. The image captures a moment of entertainment as a balancer precariously balances a ladder on his chin, reaching for a second-story window. The crowd below, a mix of men, women, and children, watches in awe, some with fascination, others with amusement. In the foreground, a little girl in a spangled frock and top hat is brought out to join the spectacle. She dances playfully for the onlookers, her joyous expression reflecting the merriment of the scene. The balancer, a street performer, is part of a long tradition of buskers and entertainers who made their living by bringing amusement to the masses. The print, published in the Illustrated London News in 1850, offers a glimpse into the fashion and customs of the time. The men wear top hats and tights, while the women don elegant dresses and crinolines. The print also reveals the diverse occupations and professions of Londoners, from the street performer to the press and the tourist. The image is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the people of London, who found joy and entertainment in the simplest of things. The balancer's humble endeavors to please afforded amusement to thousands, making him a beloved figure in the bustling streets of the city. This print invites us to explore the rich history and culture of Victorian London, a time of change and innovation, where the ordinary and the extraordinary intertwined in the daily life of the city.
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