Peasant at Market
1542
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Sebald Beham
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
See the richer artist page1542
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Peasant at Market is a 1542 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
A man in old-fashioned clothes stands holding a long staff with a curved hook at the top. He carries a sling bag over one shoulder and a small pot in one hand. Behind him, two big jars sit on the ground, and a banner unfurls with words like "DETEN WIR VERKA." The scene looks like a street or market, drawn in sharp black lines. The banner’s words mean "we sell" in German, hinting this might be a playful take on a merchant. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and texture—no paint, just ink. Want to see how this kind of drawing works? Check out engraving.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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