The Guitarist 

Here we see a drawing by James Ensor titled 'The Guitarist'. The image centers on a musician, his guitar, and the act of making music. The guitar itself has roots stretching back to antiquity. The lute, the oud, and the various stringed instruments of the ancient world served not just as sources of entertainment but as symbols of harmony. Consider, too, the figure of Orpheus, who with his lyre could charm wild beasts and even persuade the gods of the underworld. Music-making, much like storytelling, is a powerful way to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The musical instrument has persisted as a motif, resurfacing and evolving across cultures and through time, with new meanings and associations added to it. Its meaning is non-linear, a cyclical progression of image, always connected through human memory.