Musicerend trio 1655 - 1706

Curator: I find this engraving, “Musicerend Trio,” attributed to Jan van Somer and created between 1655 and 1706, so captivating! The soft lines and the gathering's intimate nature really draw me in. Editor: Immediately I notice the contrast of the lightness of their clothing with the inky shadows that ground them, the heaviness implying perhaps some of the real weight that this type of commissioned portrait carried for these figures. Curator: Absolutely. Van Somer likely crafted this piece using engraving tools, meticulously carving into a metal plate to create these fine lines. Thinking about that laborious process—the transfer of ink, the pressure, the repetitive nature—it tells a story about the artisanal nature of art production during this period, and of course, how that impacts consumption. Editor: And how that artisanal labour supported entire social structures! We see a genre painting embedded within the larger context of portraiture and performance. The visual representation of music-making, of leisure, was part of a careful performance, a projection of status through commissioned imagery and cultivated personae, which Van Somer so brilliantly put on display. Curator: Indeed, the musical instruments themselves are material objects, not merely symbolic! They speak to social practices around music and the value placed on it as a status symbol, displayed through their labor, commissioning, and handling of these fine items. Editor: The print participates in an image economy too, where status can be amplified across distance, disseminated through reproductions. Looking closely, it seems the table bears a coat-of-arms, linking this image to a powerful family and revealing how the work's purpose extended far beyond just aesthetic pleasure; it was political in the way so many pieces were at this time. Curator: It all underscores the connections between artistic creation, patronage, and the socio-political environment in which van Somer was working. Considering how deeply material constraints affected the artistic output and ultimately affected its distribution, is truly fascinating to examine here. Editor: Well, after delving into this, I see that it holds a unique place in time, showcasing art as a marker of distinction.