Minstrel 1772

"Minstrel" is a 1772 drawing by Johann Jakob Dorner the Elder, depicting a street performer entertaining a crowd. The drawing, created in brown ink on paper, highlights the lively energy of the scene. A man stands on a makeshift stage, holding a sheet of music and singing to a group of onlookers, including a man on horseback, while a soldier stands with a sword at his side, hinting at a possible element of protection for the performer. The detailed rendering of figures and their gestures conveys the sense of a bustling market square or town scene. The drawing, currently in the Städel Museum, captures a glimpse into 18th-century life and the allure of street performers.