Hearing (De Fiool Speelder) c. 1649s

Cornelis Visscher created this print, titled *Hearing*, in the mid-17th century, a period marked by significant social stratification and cultural norms. The print is an allegorical representation of hearing, one of the five senses. The image presents a raucous scene of lower-class individuals engaged in revelry. We see a fiddler at the center of the composition, energetically playing his instrument for a small crowd. This depiction of leisure and entertainment offers a glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary people in the Dutch Golden Age, while also revealing the cultural values assigned to them. The motto inscribed on the print, *Trahit sua quemque voluptas*, suggests each is led by his own pleasure. The scene offers a glimpse into the class dynamics and social hierarchies of the time. Visscher neither romanticizes nor condemns his subjects; instead, he presents them with a certain matter-of-factness, inviting us to consider their place in the broader social fabric.