Gezelschap met luitspeler en zangeres c. 1847 - 1863

Johannes Christiaan d' Arnaud Gerkens made this print of an ensemble with a lute player and a singer, using etching and burin. We don’t know exactly when it was made, but Gerkens was active in the Netherlands during the 19th century. The image portrays an idealized vision of leisure among the Dutch upper classes. Musical gatherings like this one were important social events. Note the architecture, dress, and even the presence of dogs as signifiers of wealth and status. Institutions like the Rijksmuseum play a role in preserving and presenting such cultural narratives. But the social historian might ask: whose stories are being told? And what do they leave out? Further research into the artist’s life, the history of Dutch printmaking, and the social customs of the time, could deepen our understanding of this artwork. By exploring these historical contexts, we can gain insight into the complex relationship between art and society.