Dutch Market or Fair c. 1820

"Dutch Market or Fair" is an ink on paper drawing by John Coney, created sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Coney lived and worked in colonial Boston, so we might ask what it means to represent a Dutch market scene from such a distance. Consider the time: this was an era of burgeoning mercantile activity and shifting colonial powers. The drawing is filled with men and women interacting in both leisurely and commercial ways, which may reflect the artist’s own position in society. The clothes and postures of the figures on display may also reflect class distinctions. The gaze of the artist, who probably never saw such a market, makes us consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation, particularly when viewing people removed from oneself in geography, class, or social standing. Ultimately, the drawing invites us to reflect on the nature of trade, cultural exchange, and how we look at one another across difference.