Het zingen 1731 - 1788

This print, titled 'Het zingen' meaning 'The Singing' in English, was created by Johann Esaias Nilson in the 18th century. During this time, music and singing were central to social gatherings and courtly life, seen as expressions of harmony and refinement. In this piece we see a woman at leisure being serenaded by two male musicians, while a servant looks on. Positioned centrally, the woman embodies the traditional representation of the passive female muse, a common trope in art during that era. The presence of the servant subtly hints at the class dynamics underpinning these scenes of leisure and artistic creation. The formal garden setting, complete with classical architecture and flowing water, speaks to the values of order and control that were prized by the elite. Nilson uses this scene to emphasize an emotional response to music, as the woman seems transported by the song. Though seemingly conventional, the print invites us to consider the complex interplay of gender, class, and artistic expression in 18th-century European society.