The work is a copy after a very popular type of painting showing a toy pedlar of the Song dynasty together with children. The countless things he carries in his baskets are one of the most interesting aspects of these pictures. Most famous for paintings in this genre are Su Hanchen (act. ca. 1130–1163) and Li Song (act. ca. 1190–1230), both court painters of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Lü Wenying (act. ca. 1490–1507), a court painter at the Ming Academy.
However, details such as the lines outlining the merchant's robe make it clear that this is a painting of rather limited quality.
Compare the similar painting in the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in Berlin ("Heaven and Earth on a Stretcher Yoke", sign. Wang Zhenpeng, ca. 1280 – ca. 1329, 16th c., inv.-no. 1968-6; Lothar Ledderose: Orchideen und Felsen. Berlin 1998, cat.-no. 15).