Bassoon 1790 - 1800

Dominique Antony Porthaux made this bassoon, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. At the time, music was undergoing significant change, mirroring the shifting social and political landscape. Composers were experimenting with form and expression, challenging the established order just as society was questioning inherited hierarchies. The bassoon itself, with its complex construction and rich tonal range, could be seen as emblematic of the era’s complexity. It existed at a fascinating intersection of art, craft, and social status. Who played this bassoon? Was it a man, or perhaps a woman defying expectations in a world where musical performance was often gendered? What stories did its music tell? The bassoon, resting in its case, invites us to reflect on the individual lives that intersected with its existence. Its physical presence connects us to a time of revolution, innovation, and personal expression.