A lute player 

Johann Friedrich Morgenstern created this drawing of a lute player in Germany in the early nineteenth century. At this time, Germany did not exist as a nation-state, but was rather a collection of independent states with a shared language and culture. Morgenstern was born in Frankfurt and trained in the tradition of the Old Masters. He worked at a time when artists were increasingly interested in the expressive capabilities of art. Here the artist depicts the musician with great vivacity, capturing a fleeting moment of performance. The model’s costume, as well as his instrument, is meant to evoke the Italian Renaissance. The drawing itself is a product of institutions and schools. Morgenstern taught drawing to private students and was influenced by the tradition of academic training. Understanding the cultural and social context in which art is made requires careful consideration of the available evidence, including letters, diaries, and critical reviews.