A man with a moustache is depicted sitting on a low folding chair. He is shown in full face and turned three-quarters to the right. The man wears a blue long-sleeve shirt, grey short pants, and fabric shoes. The man's head is shaved and twined around with a thin braid. The man is sewing a fabric shoe. A hammer and two spools of thread are on the table next to the man. At his feet, there is a stack of soles and ready-made shoes. The etching comes from the album "Chinese Customs and National Costumes", which includes 60 images of Chinese people engaged in various activities. An explanation in German accompanies each image; some are written in French. In the eighteenth century, artists in Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China created such paintings for Europeans seeking to learn more about China and its people.