Fishmonger and maid at the front door, 1789 – 1799

About the Work

This scene depicts a travelling fishmonger selling a large fish to a maid at a doorway and two little girls, one of whom is knitting. It bears witness to the penchant among Netherlandish collectors of the period around 1800 for genre depictions in the manner of the seventeenth century. Hidden symbolic messages – an indispensable element in older works – meanwhile no longer seem to play much of a role. In view of its rapid execution, the large-scale drawing is a fine demonstration of the artist’s skill as a draughtsman.