The family of musicians 

Editor: So, this drawing is called "The Family of Musicians" by Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich. It’s a graphite drawing currently residing at the Städel Museum. I’m struck by the looseness of the sketch – it feels informal, like a glimpse into a real moment. What do you notice when you look at this work? Curator: Ah, yes, a glimpse indeed. What I find charming is the raw energy Dietrich manages to convey through what is, essentially, a preliminary sketch. Forget formality for a moment, and imagine yourself there, amongst this lively, perhaps slightly inebriated family of musicians. Can't you almost hear the off-key flute, the scraping violin, and the boisterous laughter? Editor: Absolutely! It feels like eavesdropping on a private celebration. Is that typical for genre paintings of this time? Curator: Partly. There's often a staged quality to genre paintings, a certain moralising tendency. This, however, feels far more genuine, wouldn't you agree? The faces aren't idealized, the poses are natural, there's a delightful messiness to the composition. Do you feel as if it evokes a scene from daily life? Or do you interpret it in another way? Editor: I agree, it feels very true to life. And it makes me wonder about the individual stories within the group – are they professional musicians down on their luck, or simply a family making their own fun? Curator: Perhaps both! Or neither! Maybe the magic resides precisely in that ambiguity, inviting us to weave our own narratives around this lively, slightly tipsy, family portrait. Editor: It’s definitely got me thinking about all the possibilities. Thanks for helping me look beyond just what's on the surface of the drawing! Curator: My pleasure. Now, if only we could hear their music... perhaps best we stick to our imaginations on that front!