The textile printers in the province of Alsace were quick to take advantage of relevant technical advances and by the middle of the 19th century had a reputation for producing 'rich goods intended for consumption by the leisured classes' - although they did not ignore the cheaper end of the market. There were several independent design studios in Alsace which created patterns for wallpapers as well as textiles, selling them to manufacturers in France, Russia, Austria and Britain. Typical of the 1840s were small scenes such as these, taken from popular literature, almost hidden behind abundant and luxuriant foliage.