Market Scene with a Pick-pocket 

Louise Moillon painted this scene of a bustling market, full of ripe fruit and vegetables, sometime in the 17th century. Moillon was a rare woman artist in this period, one who often challenged the patriarchal norms of the art world by focusing on the everyday lives of women. Here, we see two women engaged in a transaction, but look closely, and you’ll notice a third figure lurking in the shadows. This is the pickpocket, a figure that adds an element of tension and unease to the scene. The painting becomes not just a celebration of nature’s bounty, but a commentary on the social realities of the time. While Moillon was from a well-off family, she was interested in capturing all social classes. Is Moillon suggesting that the pursuit of wealth can lead to moral compromise? Or is she simply acknowledging the presence of those who exist on the margins of society? What do you think?