Figurine Seller with Two Girls 1770

Salomon Gessner’s “Figurine Seller with Two Girls” (1770) is an etching depicting a female vendor holding a tray of miniature figurines, as two women examine them. The work, likely a scene from a pastoral tale, reflects Gessner’s neoclassical style, popular in 18th century Europe. The delicate lines and the depiction of idealized figures with classical drapery evoke a sense of tranquility, while the subject of playful figurines further emphasizes the lightness and sweetness of the scene. The artist's focus on elegant simplicity and harmonious compositions makes "Figurine Seller with Two Girls" a compelling example of the sentimentalism of the Rococo era.