De groentevrouw 1794

Benjamin Wolff created "De groentevrouw" using watercolor and graphite, a departure from traditional oil paintings, reflecting a shift towards more accessible and portable artistic mediums. The choice of watercolor lends itself to a softer, more immediate representation, focusing on the everyday life of a woman selling vegetables, alongside a young boy offering her a basket of fruit. This intimate portrayal contrasts with the grand narratives often depicted in oil paintings, bringing attention to the labor and commerce of ordinary people. The delicate washes of color capture the textures of the produce, the worn fabrics of their clothing, and the rustic architecture around them. Wolff's technique, while skilled, emphasizes the scene's accessibility over high artifice. The use of watercolor invites viewers to consider the social context of 18th-century trade and the individuals who contributed to the economy, blurring the lines between fine art and the depiction of daily life.