The Egg Merchant 1741 - 1763

"The Egg Merchant" is an etching by John Ingram, a British artist who lived from 1721 to 1759. Created between 1741 and 1763, the artwork depicts a woman in a wide-brimmed hat, carrying a basket of eggs, likely for sale. This etching, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Ingram's skill in capturing the everyday life of common people through detailed and expressive lines. The artwork's simple composition and focus on the central figure create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, inviting the viewer to connect with the subject's humble livelihood.