Kinderfries, in der Mitte ein Medaillon mit der Muse der Musik, links liegt ein Knabe, der den Dudelsack bläst 

Jacob de Wit created this drawing, "Kinderfries, in der Mitte ein Medaillon mit der Muse der Musik, links liegt ein Knabe, der den Dudelsack bläst", sometime between the late 17th and mid-18th century. This artwork presents a frieze populated with "Kinder," or child figures, reveling in musical pursuits. De Wit, working during the Baroque period, would have been influenced by the era's emphasis on ornamentation and allegory, as well as the role of childhood as a symbol of innocence and potential. This drawing invites us to consider the associations between music, innocence, and the cultural values of the time. The cherubic figures might echo societal expectations around childhood and artistic representation, or perhaps offer a vision of joy, momentarily free from worldly concerns. Consider the visual language, the bodies, the ways in which they're depicted. What feelings does it evoke in you? How does this frieze, teeming with musical cherubs, speak to our understanding of childhood, music, and representation today?