Studieblad. Harp spelende vrouw 1670 - 1697

Paul van Somer the Younger created this drawing of a woman playing the harp. The harp, long associated with harmony and divine worship, carries echoes of King David and Apollo. This image resonates with the ancient Greek ideal of music as a civilizing force, as seen in countless depictions of Orpheus charming beasts with his lyre. Yet, observe how the woman’s downcast eyes and melancholic posture depart from the triumphant spirit of classical art. This is not merely music, but a reflection on the soul. Across centuries, the motif of a lone figure with a stringed instrument appears. Consider the troubadours of medieval Europe, or even the solitary guitarists in Spanish paintings, each embodying a complex interplay of sorrow and beauty. It's an exploration of internal emotion. The symbol persists, though its tone shifts with the winds of cultural change. This image calls to something primal in us—a shared yearning, perhaps, for solace in a world of discord.