Greengrocer! (Plate 28) - Simon Guillain

A seventeenth-century etching by Simon Guillain depicting a Parisian street vendor, captured with precise line work and historical detail.

This etching by Simon Guillain, dated 1646, depicts a street vendor carrying a large basket of produce upon her head. The work belongs to a series documenting the various trades and figures seen on the streets of Paris during the seventeenth century. Guillain, primarily known as a sculptor, demonstrates a precise command of line in this print, using hatching to define the texture of the basket and the folds of the subject's clothing.

The composition is straightforward, focusing on the figure in profile. The vendor stands against a sparse background, which directs attention to her posture and the weight of the basket. Her attire, including a simple cap and apron, reflects the practical dress of the working class in mid-seventeenth-century France. The inclusion of small items hanging from her waist suggests the daily reality of a street merchant, providing a glimpse into the social fabric of the period.

Guillain's approach to this series is observational. He captures the physical exertion of the vendor through the angle of her arm and the balance required to support the load. The etching technique allows for clean, distinct lines that clarify the form without unnecessary ornamentation. This print serves as a record of urban life, documenting the individuals who populated the markets and thoroughfares of the era. The plate number in the corner indicates its place within a larger collection of similar studies, which collectively offer a survey of contemporary occupations. The work remains a clear example of the documentary interest in street types that occupied many artists of the French Baroque period.