Concert c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Concert, by an imitator of Guercino. It's a pen and ink drawing depicting three musicians. I'm struck by the contrast between the figures’ elaborate clothing and the sketch-like quality of the drawing itself. What are your thoughts on this piece? Curator: This drawing offers a glimpse into the performance of gender and class during the Baroque period. Consider the male figure with the feathered hat, perhaps symbolizing aristocratic pretension, juxtaposed with the woman's active role in music-making. What does their collaboration suggest about the social dynamics of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way! It makes me wonder about who had access to music and performance. Curator: Exactly. And it's through that lens that we can start to question whose stories are being told, and whose are being silenced. Editor: That’s a powerful way to look at it. I'll definitely remember this approach in the future. Curator: And I'll remember to listen more closely to the music of the past, and the voices within it.