The Art Market, JVH (1000 pcs)

Under a clear sky, an entire square has been turned into an art market in this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle: an old stone wall pierced with tall arches frames rows of paintings like so many open-air galleries, while a green pavilion topped with a glass conservatory-style roof lines the square. Behind the wall, rolling green hills and a lookout tower close off the horizon. At the center of the scene, a leafy tree shades a crowd of visitors wandering among artworks mounted on brick pedestals, a classical sculpture standing on its plinth, and an artist focused at his easel, brush in hand. A giant painter's palette overflowing with colorful flowers doubles as a flower bed in the middle of the bustle, while on the pavilion roof, a character dangling from a rope gets splashed by a burst of multicolored paint: the kind of wacky detail that gives this busy scene all its charm.

Published by Jumbo, this puzzle belongs to the Jan van Haasteren line of comic puzzles, instantly recognizable for scenes packed with characters and visual gags to spot one by one. Puzzle fans looking for an even bigger challenge will also find this same scene in a 2000-piece version.

A well-known Dutch cartoonist, Jan van Haasteren has been drawing for Jumbo since the 1980s and turned these chaotic, humorous puzzles into his trademark, packing every image with hidden winks. He is also behind equally lively titles such as The Music Shop and The Library, always with that same knack for comic detail.

Dimensions: 60 x 48 cm once completed