Paintings in the Musée Fesch 1890

This is a painting by Paul Leroy, made around 1891, depicting a young man playing a guzla, a Cypriot lute. It's an oil painting, so we see the artist's hand directly in the brushwork and rendering of light. But it's also a document of cultural exchange. The instrument itself speaks to craft traditions from Cyprus and beyond. The young man's clothing and features, carefully observed, suggest the artist's interest in depicting a specific cultural identity. Leroy has clearly taken care with his observation, translating material reality into paint, from the wood of the guzla to the cotton of the man’s robe. We should also note that the painting is a study, an exercise in capturing a moment in time. It's the kind of work that blurs the line between art and craft, inviting us to consider the social and cultural significance embedded within the artwork.