New Orleans, Farmer's Market

Max Pollak

Max Pollak did this color intaglio around 1935 when he and his wife Friedl were traveling across the United States, eventually settling in San Francisco, California. On his travels he recorded his impressions, sometimes the architecture and the neighborhoods and activities there.

While in New Orleans he created this work, a view of the Farmer's Market, a pavillion within the French Market located on North Peters Street, founded in 1791 and spanning 5 blocks. In the late 19th century, the Market was given its modern day, bazaar-like structure, designed by Joseph Abeilard, one of America's first African American Architects. With its new permanent home, the French Market continued to grow and add more commercial products, fresh produce and unique commodities that cannot be found anywhere else.

Pollak shows a canopied outdoor shop with bananas hanging in the foreground as a red racked truck unloads fresh produce. The Farmers Market even hosts a special festival every year for the spring harvest of the Creole tomato. The The Farmers Market even hosts a special festival every year for the spring harvest of the Creole tomato. The Creole Tomato Festival is free and open to the public to enjoy an endless amount of fresh picked tomatoes and tomato based dishes that are unique to the New Orleans area.