Cellospelende vrouw 1834 - 1911

This is Jozef Israëls' sketch of a woman playing the cello, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's the cello that seizes our attention – an instrument embodying both melancholy and profound expressiveness. Observe how the woman’s posture, head bowed, mirrors the cello's own curves, suggesting a deep, almost symbiotic connection. The musical instrument and the figure become one. This motif of human-instrument fusion has roots stretching back to ancient depictions of Orpheus, whose lyre could charm even wild beasts. Throughout history, music, especially stringed instruments like the cello, is associated with the voice of sorrow and longing. Think of the medieval troubadours, whose songs of unrequited love echo in the cello’s resonant tones. The act of playing becomes a conduit for expressing unspoken emotions. In this sketch, Israëls taps into our collective memory, evoking feelings of introspection. The woman and her cello, they resonate with echoes of shared human experience, a melody of the soul.