Straatmuzikant 1629 - 1630

Curator: Look at this, will you? "Straatmuzikant," dating from 1629-1630, an engraving by Abraham Bosse here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's the visual equivalent of a slightly out-of-tune melody played on a rickety instrument. Simultaneously charming and just a tad melancholic, don't you think? Curator: I’d say so. It’s the quintessential image of a traveling street musician from that era. Bosse was clearly fascinated with the lives of ordinary people. The print is just incredibly detailed. Look at the texture he's managed to capture on that worn cloak. Editor: The cloak itself is laden with symbolic weight. A worn-out cloak suggesting a wandering, unstable existence…it speaks volumes. Even the little shoes! Curator: And then the composition! The musician, the centre of attention of course, set against that stone wall where a small crowd are gathered, drawn to the music. What catches my eye are those figures lurking just behind it. Are they entertained or simply curious? Editor: More than entertained, I see captured. The children behind the wall are leaning forward. To me, Bosse's imagery speaks about how we're all naturally drawn to storytelling. We look for that "something more" in the daily routine, whatever form that takes, in this case music! Curator: A story of fleeting connection through art, beautifully portrayed. Editor: Exactly! And to think how, centuries later, we can still pause and reflect on such fleeting moment thanks to pieces like these… Curator: Well said. A snapshot of a bygone era with a resonance that’s utterly timeless.