In The Drawing Room At Haikko, Study For An Old Tune 1888

Albert Edelfelt painted this study for an oil on canvas artwork titled In the Drawing Room at Haikko. Observe the piano and the two women interacting with it, a scene filled with cultural symbolism. In the late 19th century, the piano was more than a musical instrument; it was a status symbol, an emblem of domesticity and refinement. The act of playing music, especially for women, signified education, leisure, and social grace. Think back to the troubadours of medieval times, the bards of old, all the way to Ancient Greece and Apollo, the god of music. This lineage speaks to music's power to civilize, to elevate the spirit. The composition evokes a sense of intimacy and introspection. What is the tune they play? Does it evoke feelings of melancholy or joy? The way the women's hands engage with the instrument can reveal their emotions and desires, an unspoken language, a cultural memory of shared experiences. The piano becomes a vessel carrying history, emotion, and identity.