Harp Guitar 1827

This intriguing harp guitar was crafted by Joseph Laurent Mast, but its precise date remains a mystery to us. Notice the lyre-like form, a nod to ancient Greece, where music was entwined with mythology and the divine. The lyre, with its association to Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and light, symbolizes harmony and order. In contrast, the guitar evokes a more earthly, passionate sound. This blending of forms isn't new; it echoes through history. Think of the Renaissance, where classical ideals were reborn. The image of musical instruments themselves have appeared as symbols in paintings across time. The harp guitar embodies this tension. It invites us to ponder the cyclical dance of cultural memory, where ancient symbols find new voice and form. Through this instrument, Mast engages with the collective unconscious, reminding us that the echoes of the past are always present.