The Flute Player 

"The Flute Player" is an oil painting by the German artist Rudolf Ernst, who specialized in Orientalist subjects. The painting depicts a man in traditional Middle Eastern garb playing a flute, likely set in a street scene. The artist's use of light and shadow adds depth and drama to the composition. Ernst's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the textures of the man's clothing, the monkey sitting on a small box, and the intricate rug at his feet. This piece exemplifies the Orientalist genre's fascination with the exotic and its focus on the visual culture of the Middle East.