Man in kleermakerszit met draailier 1731

Michel Aubert made this print, “Man in tailor's seat with hurdy-gurdy,” sometime in the first half of the 18th century. The print tells us something about the circulation and interpretation of images of non-Europeans at the time. The print depicts a man with a hurdy-gurdy, wearing what appears to be a Chinese-style hat and dress, accompanied by a child. The image plays on the European fascination with the "Orient" and the use of stereotyped imagery. The print is titled "Viosseu ou Musicien Chinois," meaning "Viosseu or Chinese Musician," suggesting the artist may not have been sure what he was looking at. The artist likely relied on second-hand knowledge or popular imagination rather than direct observation. Prints like these can tell us much about how cultural exchange was mediated through the institutions of art. Scrutinizing auction records, travelogues, and costume books can help flesh out the history behind this image.