Shoeblack Collection

Shoeshiner. From the Series "Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris), 1815. Creator: Vernet, Carle (1758-1836)
Shoeshiner. From the Series "Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris), 1815. Private Collection

Mr Hume se passant la fantaisie... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Mr Hume se passant la fantaisie... 19th century. Mr Hume passing the fantasy

Scenes in the First Reconstructed Legislature, 1905. Creator: Unknown
Scenes in the First Reconstructed Legislature, 1905. Additional title: Cartoons from " The Loil Legislature, " by Captain B. H. Screws

Harper's February, c1890 - 1907. Creator: Edward Penfield
Harper's February, c1890 - 1907. [Publisher: Harper Publications; Place: New York]

The Little Shoe-Shine Boy, n.d. Creator: Charles-Philibert de Lasteyrie
The Little Shoe-Shine Boy, n.d

Young Sol and Greely, from Harper's Weekly, published May 1, 1869. Creator: Frank Beard
Young Sol and Greely, from Harper's Weekly, published May 1, 1869

Scenes from Russian Folk Life, n.d. Creator: Ignatii Stepanovich Shchedrovski
Scenes from Russian Folk Life, n.d

Spanish Civil War Me As A Volunteer I Do What
spanish, civil, war, me, as, a, volunteer, i, do, what, want, caricature, published, in, the, magazine, l'esquella, de, la, torratxa, vertical, upright, black, and, white, b, w, woman, with

Shoe-Black, 18th century. Creator: Jacopo Amigoni
Shoe-Black, 18th century

Shoeshine stand, Southeastern U. S. 1936. Creator: Walker Evans
Shoeshine stand, Southeastern U.S. [Sign: Shine - Bennie Sims. On bicycle: City Shine Parlour ]

London Life - A Shoeblack works outside a Station Entrance on The City and South London Railway (C&SLR), the tunnels and lines of which now form the Bank Branch of the Northern line, Date: circa 1910s

The Independent Shoe-Black, 1881. Creator: John Thomson
The Independent Shoe-Black, 1881. A work made of woodburytype, plate 21 in the book " street incidents" (1881)

The Independent Shoe-Black, 1877. Creator: John Thomson
The Independent Shoe-Black, 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

The Dramatic Shoe-Black, 1877. Creator: John Thomson
The Dramatic Shoe-Black, 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

The Shoeblack (engraving)
3625993 The Shoeblack (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Shoeblack. Illustration for Chatterbox (1867). Digitally cleaned image.); © Look and Learn

Pictures of Life and Character in Paris by an English Artist, VI (engraving)
1053059 Pictures of Life and Character in Paris by an English Artist, VI (engraving) by Ralston, William (1848-1911) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service
GHL205228 The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service, plate III of Industry and Idleness, published 1833 (engraving) by Hogarth

The Boots Who Forgot to Chalk the Boots, H. M. Bateman
Sequential cartoon by H.M. Bateman showing a young man given shoe cleaning duties in a hotel muddling up various pairs with hilarious consequences the following morning. Date: 1920

A young shoeblack shining a mans shoes on the street (photo)
602292 A young shoeblack shining a mans shoes on the street (photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cup-and-Ball Fair (engraving)
3627729 Cup-and-Ball Fair (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cup-and-Ball Fair. Illustration for The Picture Magazine, 1893.); © Look and Learn

The Shoeblack (b / w photo)
3096140 The Shoeblack (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Shoeblack. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

A London shoeblack
A shoeblack working on the Embankment, London, shinig the shoes of a gentleman. Date: 1885

Packing-Warehouse, Day and Martins Blacking Factory (engraving)
3655879 Packing-Warehouse, Day and Martins Blacking Factory (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Packing-Warehouse, Day and Martins Blacking Factory)

Railway Travelling in India, illustration from Cassell
STC394744 Railway Travelling in India, illustration from Cassells Illustrated History of England (engraving) by English School

The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard, During Divine Service
1071411 The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard, During Divine Service, 1747 (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 26.4x34.6 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas

Shoeblack, London, 1870s (b / w photo)
3099658 Shoeblack, London, 1870s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shoeblack, London, 1870s)

Shoeblack (colour litho)
3650315 Shoeblack (colour litho) by Petherick, H.W. (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shoeblack. Illustration for London Characters (Aunt Louisas London Toy Books)

The Shoeblack (engraving)
602233 The Shoeblack (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Shoeblack, depicting a young man calling out to passers by on a busy street)

The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service
STC451134 The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service, plate III of Industry and Idleness, illustration from Hogarth Restored

Life at San Remo (engraving)
1595041 Life at San Remo (engraving) by Forestier, Amedee (1854-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life at San Remo. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 14 January 1888)

London (colour litho)
5228933 London (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London. Illustration for The Object Painting Book by H Lynn and Others (Frederick Warne)

People and Places in Vienna (engraving)
1048888 People and Places in Vienna (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: People and Places in Vienna)

Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1860s. Creator: Unknown
Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1860s

[Camp Scene with Soldiers of the 22nd New York State Militia, Harpers Ferry, Virginia], 1862

SHOE BLACK / GERMANY
A shoeblack shines a customers shoes on a pavement in Germany Date: 1950s

London Stone, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
London Stone, 1872. London Stone set in a grille at St Swithin, London Stone, Anglican Church on Cannon Street in the City of London. From, " LONDON

Old Boots, A well known character at Rippon in Yorkshire, 1821. Creator: Robert Cooper
Old Boots, A well known character at Rippon in Yorkshire, 1821. Portrait of Old Boots (c1692-1762), an eccentric shoe shiner who was blessed with a plentitude of nose and chin

Woman polishing shoes, Brussels, 1898. Artist: James Batkin
Woman polishing shoes, Brussels, 1898. Illustration from a book of photographs taken in Holland and Belgium by James Batkin, (1898)

London Shoeblack
A London Shoeblack at work. Date: early 1900s

Shoeblacks Saffron Hill paying-in wages
Boys at the Saffron Hill Shoeblack Brigade paying-in their days takings. Date: circa 1902

Charing Cross Shoeblack
A one-legged shoeblack at Charing Cross Station yard. In 1914, within a 3 mile radius of here, there were 1000 shoeblacks, but less than 40 when this picture was taken. Date: early 1950s

Shoeblack 1737 Etching engraving Sheet trimmed
Artokoloro

The British Beehive, 1867 (litho)
XJF393818 The British Beehive, 1867 (litho) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878); Private Collection; (add.info.: cartoon sketched by Cruikshank in 1840 but only published by him in 1867; his pictorial)

SHOEBLACK AND DOG DEALER, Vienna engraving 1873, Austria

Shoeshine
1877: A young independent shoeblack shines the boots of a city gent. Original Publication: From Street Life In London by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith - pub

Shoeblack & Cabby
Shoeblack polishing a Cabbys shoes. Date: circa 1910

Egypt - Three Shoeblacks ( at ease )
Egypt - Three Shoeblacks (" at ease" ) Date: circa 1910s

Cleaning Shoes
A seated bearer cleaning a pair of massive black boots, a pair of safari boots and a pair of black leather gaiters

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"Shoeblack: A Glimpse into the Stories of Hard Work and Resilience" In the midst of the Spanish Civil War, I found myself as a volunteer, doing what I could to make a difference. As I walked through the war-torn streets, my attention was drawn to a painting from the 18th century titled "Shoe-Black, " created by Jacopo Amigoni. It depicted a young shoeblack diligently shining shoes, reminding me of the importance of even small acts in times of chaos. My journey continued to Southeastern U. S. In 1936 when Walker Evans captured an image of a shoeshine stand. The photograph revealed not only economic struggles but also resilience and determination etched on the face of its owner. A step back in time took me to London during the 1910s where an engraving showcased a shoeblack working outside a station entrance on The City and South London Railway (C&SLR). These tunnels now form part of today's Bank Branch Northern line. This glimpse into history reminded me that some professions have stood strong throughout generations, providing essential services for commuters. John Thomson's photographs from both 1881 and 1877 introduced us to "The Independent Shoe-Black. " Through these images, we witness individuals who relied solely on their skills and hard work to earn their living amidst challenging circumstances. Thomson's lens captures their pride and dignity despite societal disparities. Another captivating image by John Thomson showcases "The Dramatic Shoe-Black" from 1877. This particular shoeblack seemed to possess an air of theatricality about him - perhaps finding solace or escape within his craft while facing life's hardships head-on. As I delved further into this world, engravings such as "The Shoeblack" transported me across borders into Paris with its vibrant life portrayed by an English artist in Pictures of Life and Character series.