Comical Concert c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Claude DuBosc’s etching, "Comical Concert." I'm struck by how the musicians seem to be in their own worlds, each lost in… well, I'm not sure "music" is the right word! What do you make of this scene? Curator: Ah, yes, a "comical" concert indeed! Notice how DuBosc uses etching to create these wonderfully quirky characters. It’s as if he's captured a band of wandering minstrels, perhaps a bit worse for wear, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely worse for wear! They seem almost like caricatures. Curator: Exactly! It’s poking fun at musical gatherings, maybe even at the very idea of harmony. I find the child drummer especially telling— totally unfazed by the cacophony around him! Editor: So it's a commentary on the chaos of art itself? I hadn't thought of it that way! Curator: Perhaps! Or maybe it's just a lighthearted jab. Either way, it's a delightful glimpse into the artistic humor of the time.