Zintuig gehoor 1581 - 1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn’s engraving presents us with a symbolic tableau of hearing, dominated by musical instruments and a serene woman with a lute. The lute, an emblem of harmony and divine accord, is central to this allegory of auditory experience. But observe, to the side, a stag rests near a harp, while in the background, figures flee through the woods. The stag, often linked to the wild and instinctual, contrasts with the civilized music-making. Note how the stag also appears in medieval bestiaries, symbolizing both nobility and vulnerability. Across time, this pairing of music and the stag may echo the ancient Greek myth of Actaeon, hunted down after glimpsing Diana, a moment captured in countless paintings. Such images aren’t mere illustrations; they plunge into our collective memory, resonating with primal fears and aspirations. Like echoes in a grand hall, these symbols resurface, transformed yet familiar, engaging our subconscious with their enduring power.