Musicerend en etend gezelschap 1628 - 1694

This ink drawing of people eating and making music was created by Hishikawa Moronobu in the late 17th century. Notice how the composition is divided into two distinct tableaus, each offering a unique perspective on leisure. On one side, figures are actively involved in preparing food, their gestures rendered with precise, economical lines. On the other side, the scene shifts to music and relaxation, figures here are drawn into a softer, more fluid arrangement. The empty space above each scene creates a semiotic absence that almost begs for an interpretation. The contrast between the active and passive pursuits invites a deeper contemplation of how leisure itself is structured. Moronobu’s minimalist approach and the spatial organization challenge viewers to consider the unspoken narratives that bind these scenes together. It questions the categories that define work and play, production and consumption.