Fluitspeler 1619 - 1675

Lucas Vorsterman created this engraving of a flute player in the 17th century. The flute, seemingly simple, carries echoes through time. In ancient Greece, the aulos, a reed instrument, was linked to Dionysus, god of revelry, inducing ecstatic states. This tradition continued, finding resonance in the medieval pipe and tabor, instruments of wandering minstrels, weaving tales and tunes across the land. Observe the musician's focused expression. Is he merely playing a tune, or is he conjuring something deeper? Music has always been associated with emotion. Consider the Renaissance concept of "musical modes," each believed to evoke specific emotions. This print taps into this age-old understanding, stirring something within us, a memory perhaps, or a longing. The flute, in its various forms, persists. It is a symbol, evolving, adapting, resonating, an instrument of both delight and profound connection.