Details
Creator Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher.
Contributor Simpson, William, publisher.
Title Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?" [graphic] / C.
Publisher Philadelphia, Published by W. Simpson No. 66 Chestnut St
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1829
Date May 1829
Physical Description 1 print: hand-colored etching mounted on paper; 28 x 19 cm (10.75 x 7.5 in.)
Description Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of gray-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed pink hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, and yellow gloves, earrings, and blue button-up boots. She rests her yellow, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her red parasol rests against the counter. Rows of red, blue, and yellow stockings hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a blue waistcoat with tails, a yellow vest, red cravat, and white pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a yellow polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed yellow hat adorned with ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which multi-colored curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair.
Notes Title from print.
Date from print.
Inscribed: Plate XI.
Inscribed: Copy Right Secured.
Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Subject African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Clerks (Retail trade) -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Conversation.
Hosiery.
Men -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Middle-class -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Racism in popular culture.
Shopping -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Genre Caricatures -- 1820-1830.
Etchings -- Colored -- 1820-1830.
Printer Simpson, William, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2004.39.1]
Accession number P.2004.39.1