Artwork
The Peasants at Market
The Peasants at Market is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1519 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Peasants at Market, a print by Albrecht Dürer, depicts a nuanced transaction between a male egg seller and a discerning older female buyer in a rural marketplace, highlighting the social dynamics of the time.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the economic independence of lower-class women in northern Europe during the period. The older woman's attentive yet authoritative stance, accompanied by a money purse, hens, and carried goods, asserts her control over the purchase, contrasting with the male seller's subordinate role.
Technique & Style
(Note: Original source lacks specific technical details. The following is a generalized statement based on Dürer's known practices.) Executed in Dürer's characteristic meticulous printmaking style, likely utilizing woodcut or engraving techniques to achieve detailed, expressive figures and settings.
History & Provenance
Insufficient specific information provided about the artwork's creation date, original commission, or ownership history beyond its attribution to Albrecht Dürer.
Context
Created amidst the societal shifts of northern Europe, the work reflects the era's unique gender dynamics where lower-class women enjoyed relative autonomy in market activities, contributing to the household economy.
Legacy
The Peasants at Market contributes to Dürer's legacy of capturing everyday life with depth, influencing subsequent depictions of common subjects in European art. For similar works, see The Cleveland Museum of Art's collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
