Drie musicerende duivels 1617 - 1681

Curator: This playful pencil drawing, titled "Three Music-Making Devils," comes to us from the brush... well, the pencil, of Cornelis Saftleven, active roughly mid-17th century. Editor: Oh, I get a kick out of this! It feels like a back-alley concert, delightfully bizarre. It's like Hieronymus Bosch let his hair down. Curator: Saftleven did have a flair for the grotesque and the comedic, often depicting peasants, animals, and, as you see, the occasional devilish character in his works. Notice how, despite the demonic subject matter, there's this whimsical, almost cartoonish quality? Editor: Absolutely! The central figure, with that bird-like head and his little necktie—he's got serious stage presence. And then that other devil, he looks like he is playing both lute and conducting the whole show. I admire the loose lines capturing an energetic moment. What would you say, this piece aimed for realism or symbolism? Curator: Saftleven was most interested in everyday life, and I would wager the devils are closer to societal satire than theological representations. His lines carry a strong suggestion of swift, impromptu character sketches rather than any detailed rendering of the supernatural, for example in their accessories. I love to believe the blade at the bottom stands for more sinister pursuits, maybe as a dark counterpoint to all the music making. Editor: True, there's that sense of implied narrative, even potential danger lurking beneath the humor. That crude sword might foreshadow all sorts of mischief... Does it remind anyone else of theatre acting, or an actual performance that happened? Curator: It's hard to tell with Saftleven, wouldn’t you agree? Whether it depicts the common man at a village fair or the underworld throwing a party, the essence of his images is captured precisely at these moments. Editor: Looking at this makes me happy, it has a joyful sort of spontaneity that brings to life the art, that many people will enjoy without thinking about the underlying reasons.