Vegetable Market 1655 - 1665

Nicolaes Maes painted this bustling scene of a Vegetable Market sometime during the Dutch Golden Age. The painting offers us a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in 17th century Holland. There is an interesting emphasis on the women in this work, who are portrayed as active participants in the marketplace, whether selling produce or caring for children. This challenges the traditional view of women being confined to the domestic sphere. We can feel the pulse of daily life through Maes’ detailed depiction of clothing and expressions, along with the cobblestone streets. What does it mean to look into an ordinary day of the past, rendered in paint? Maes prompts us to consider how economic activity and family life intersected in Dutch society and the representation of women and children in the public sphere. It is a vivid reminder of the complexities inherent in everyday life, and prompts reflections on our own place within similar networks.