The Antiquary Shop 1879

William Merritt Chase’s “The Antiquary Shop” is an oil on canvas, though it feels closer to mud and stone. Chase's painting style is immediate, a flurry of brushstrokes capturing a bric-a-brac emporium. Paint is laid on thick, almost sculpted. Notice how the artist doesn't smooth out the texture but leaves it raw, evoking the very surfaces he depicts. The antiquities hint at skilled hands—the blacksmith who forged the ironwork, the carpenter who built the chest, the glassblower who crafted the bottles. Each item carries its own history of making. The painting prompts us to consider the labor involved in these objects, how they transitioned from workshop to marketplace, and the hands that held them before finding their way here, displayed for sale. Chase doesn’t just show us things, but also the web of social relations that surround them. He bridges the gap between fine art and the world of craft and commerce.