De koekverkoper 1757 - 1763

This is ‘De koekverkoper’, made by Louis Marin Bonnet sometime in the 18th century. The print uses etching to create an image dominated by the contrast between light and shadow. Bonnet’s work presents us with a staged pastoral scene. A boy stands to the left, weighted down by the wares he carries, while a girl to the right extends coins to make a purchase. The composition directs our gaze along a diagonal from the lower left to the upper right. The lines of the figures are soft, and the textures are rendered with a delicate touch. The scene invites us to consider the social structure it depicts. It shows an interaction of commerce, but does so within a frame of aristocracy. Note the inscriptions below the image, which dedicate the work to a nobleman and a royal minister. Bonnet's work doesn’t just reflect society; it actively participates in constructing it. This print is a cultural artifact, shaped by the values and interests of its time, yet it remains open to our contemporary interpretations.