Who painted A Boy with a Basket of Fruit?

A Boy with a Basket of Fruit was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see A Boy with a Basket of Fruit?

A Boy with a Basket of Fruit is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

A Boy with a Basket of Fruit

A Boy with a Basket of Fruit is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1750, this oil painting depicts a young boy holding a basket brimming with fruit.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750, this oil painting depicts a young boy holding a basket brimming with fruit. The figure stands before a dark, undefined backdrop, his light‑colored shirt contrasting with the surrounding gloom. The composition is straightforward, focusing on the interaction between the child’s hands and the laden basket, conveying a quiet, contemplative scene.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a boy whose gaze is directed toward the basket, suggesting concentration on the task of carrying or presenting the produce. The assortment of apples, grapes, and other fruits may allude to abundance or the everyday labor of market life, while the blurred facial features keep the emphasis on the act rather than individual identity.

Technique & Style

Rendered with a restrained palette, the artist employs soft modeling for the boy’s shirt and the fruit, while the background remains uniformly dark, heightening the three‑dimensionality of the central forms. Brushwork is smooth and precise, especially in the depiction of the fruit’s skin, indicating a careful, observational approach typical of mid‑18th‑century genre painting.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the artist known as 1688_person, the work has been part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. Its dating to the mid‑1750s places it within the artist’s mature period, though documentation of its early ownership remains limited, with the museum acquisition providing the earliest confirmed record.