Vioolspeler 1681 - 1740

Curator: "Vioolspeler" by Jan van der Bruggen—what a find! An engraving dating somewhere between 1681 and 1740. What strikes you about it? Editor: It’s certainly of its time, the period dress especially. There’s a slightly…off-kilter energy. Is it just me, or does this violinist look a bit…awkward? What’s your take? Curator: Awkward indeed! But perhaps that's precisely the point? I see a beautiful tension between realism and, dare I say, a touch of caricature. Look at the eyes, that almost theatrical gaze…van der Bruggen isn't just showing us a musician, is he? He's inviting us into a performance, a moment of heightened emotion. Don't you feel a sort of stage presence? What sort of melody might this figure play? Editor: Oh, that’s interesting… A caricature in its own way. It’s not the most flattering portrait! The feathered hat, the somewhat puffed face. It makes you wonder what he was really like… Perhaps not as poised as he thought. Curator: Precisely! And those tiny imperfections—they give the engraving its life. I like to think van der Bruggen caught the musician not just playing notes but getting lost in them. That’s so real! Do you agree? Editor: Yes, I think I agree with that. Before, the imperfections of his form bothered me; now, I see that is the beauty. That's a wonderful thought! It definitely changes how I will view portrait art in the future. Thanks for that. Curator: My pleasure! Art’s about conversation, you know. Even if that chat takes place across centuries, via a single image. Editor: Definitely!