Cecilia de Madrazo Playing the Piano 1869

Mariano Fortuny created this intriguing sketch titled 'Cecilia de Madrazo Playing the Piano' using pen and ink. Here, the piano stands as more than mere furniture; it is the focal point of bourgeois domesticity, an instrument of leisure and social grace. Observe the figure of Cecilia, her back turned to us, yet her posture speaks volumes of concentration and perhaps, the subtle tension of performance. The act of playing music, like dance, is an Apollonian ritual; yet here, there is a notable contrast. Consider the flickering candlelight. Light, a symbol that appears in antiquity representing enlightenment, the divine, and the ephemeral nature of life, harking back to the vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. But here, juxtaposed with the piano, it suggests a yearning, a longing for something beyond the confines of the salon. It’s this interplay of light and shadow that resonates with our deepest emotions. The presence of musical symbolism shows how we, as humans, are collectively affected by the production and interpretation of culturally inherited symbols. Consider how the piano is not only a symbol of artistic expression but also how it is a tool for social advancement, and is deeply rooted in social conventions. These representations resurface and evolve, taking on new meanings in each historical context.