Vrouw bespeelt fluit van een blinde man c. 1627

This engraving by Jean Dubrayet shows a woman playing the flute of a blind man. Consider the flute itself. It is a simple instrument, yet it carries the weight of centuries. Throughout history, the flute appears in various guises, from the pastoral pipes of ancient Greece to the divine flute of Krishna, enchanting all beings. Here, it is an instrument of survival, a means for the blind man to earn his keep. The blind man’s reliance on the flute and the woman’s temporary control over it is a powerful combination. It evokes the archetype of blindness as insight, where physical sight is replaced by a deeper understanding. The flute then becomes not just a musical instrument, but a symbol of this inner vision. Observe how the woman’s breath animates the flute, bringing life and sound where there would otherwise be silence. This act is reminiscent of ancient myths where breath, or *pneuma*, is the essence of life itself. The cyclical act of breathing into the flute mirrors the cyclical nature of existence – an echo of life, death, and rebirth. This image resurfaces in different contexts, evolving and taking on new meanings across time.