The artwork titled “Peasants at the Market” was created by the renowned artist Albrecht Dürer in 1512 as part of the Northern Renaissance art movement. It is a genre painting, focusing on the depiction of scenes from daily life, particularly experienced by common people during that period.
The image shows two individuals, presumably peasants, engaged in some kind of interaction or transaction at a market. The woman on the left is carrying what appears to be a basket full of goods, possibly for sale. She is dressed in clothing typical of the time period, with a headscarf wrapped around her head and a full-length dress. The man on the right is looking towards the woman, and he is attired in knee-length breeches, long socks, and a shirt with a gathered waist, a common outfit for a working-class male of that era. He appears to be holding something in his left hand, though it’s not clear what it is.
There’s a sense of realistic detail in the etching, with Dürer’s skillful use of line creating texture and depth, endowing the artwork with a lifelike quality. The facial expressions, attire, and body language suggest an everyday interaction, capturing a moment in the lives of common folk during the Northern Renaissance. The artist’s monogram “AD” is visible within the artwork, indicating his authorship. This work reflects Dürer’s attention to the social landscape and the humanity of his subjects, typical features of his genre works during the Northern Renaissance.
