Boy Playing the Flute 1660

Judith Leyster made this painting of a boy playing the flute sometime in the 17th century with oil on canvas. Leyster’s technique involves layering thin glazes of paint to build up the forms, the clothing, and the instruments. These were traditional art materials. But music making, especially for amateurs, was becoming increasingly common in Dutch society at this time. Note the other instruments included in the picture – the violin and a second flute. Leyster was unusual as a woman working as an artist at this time, and she specialized in genre scenes like this, images of everyday life. Paintings like this speak to a rising merchant class, who had the leisure time and wherewithal to play instruments. It reminds us that seemingly simple images can in fact contain a wealth of social and cultural meaning. Appreciating the materials and making of an artwork helps us understand its place in history.