Seated Man, Precariously Balanced, Playing Bagpipes 1500 - 1600

This 16th-century drawing by an anonymous artist depicts a man playing a bagpipe. The figure is shown in profile, seated precariously on a stool, and the artist captures the movement of the bagpipe's bellows with precise lines. The work, executed in pen and ink on paper, is a fine example of the detailed anatomical studies favored during the Northern Renaissance. The artist's attention to detail and masterful use of line highlights the intricate mechanics of the instrument.