Marskramer demonstreert zijn koopwaar c. 1590 - 1615

Gillis van Breen made this etching, "Marskramer demonstreert zijn koopwaar," that is, "A Peddler Demonstrating his Wares," in the Netherlands, sometime between 1610 and 1622. The print depicts a portly man displaying his wares to a seated figure, while another looks on. It seems to offer a snapshot of everyday life, but it also speaks to the cultural and economic shifts happening at the time. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was experiencing a golden age of trade and prosperity. The rise of a merchant class created a demand for genre scenes depicting ordinary people engaged in daily activities. Here, the artist presents a scene of commerce, but it is also a commentary on social class. The peddler and his customers are rendered with unflattering realism, suggesting a certain skepticism towards the emerging consumer culture. To understand the image better, we can look at the prints and other visual media circulating in the 17th-century Netherlands. These resources shed light on the social and economic forces shaping artistic production, and they remind us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.