Buy a rat or a mouse trap

'Buy a trap, a rat-trap, buy my trap' is the cry of the vendor depicted here on the right, who is selling rat traps on the streets of the city.

A rat in one of the traps has caught the attention of the dog at the trader's heels. A potential customer, meanwhile, peruses the goods on offer while the seller's gaze has been distracted by the young woman looking out of a window. In the background, this encounter is paralleled by the amorous couple seen with their arms around each other.

This drawing is from Thomas Rowlandson's series 'Cries of London' and it was later engraved by the artist. In 1799, 1801 and 1820 Rowlandson produced a series of different sets which focused on street cries. The engraving after this drawing was the first plate in Rowlandson's first series.

Rowlandson was well-known as a satirical draughtsman who humorously depicted the city in which he was born. His skill as a caricaturist is evident here, in the distorted features of both the trap seller and his customer. Barking dogs and buxom ladies, also depicted in this drawing, frequently appear in his works.