Selling Guinea Pigs 

George Morland painted ‘Selling Guinea Pigs’ with oil on canvas sometime in the late 1700s. Morland used a fine weave canvas. This choice of material, along with the subtle blending of tones, gives the scene a soft, intimate feel. The artist's brushwork emphasizes the texture of the figures' clothing and the rough surface of the stone steps, grounding the scene in a tangible reality. The painting depicts a transaction between a rural family and a man selling guinea pigs, highlighting the economic activities of everyday life in the late 18th century. It subtly comments on the economic realities faced by ordinary people, where even small sales of pets could contribute to a family's livelihood. This focus encourages us to think about how artistic choices reflect and comment on broader social dynamics.