Musica (Muziek) c. 1600 - 1685

"Musica (Muziek)" is a 17th-century engraving by Jean Baptiste Humbelot, depicting a woman holding a quill pen and a book of sheet music while various musical instruments are laid out before her. The engraving, created between 1600 and 1685, portrays a woman dressed in fashionable attire, with a delicate lace collar and cuffs, symbolizing the elegance and refinement associated with music during this period. The composition, with its emphasis on the woman and the musical instruments, showcases the popularity of music and the arts in the 17th century. The inscription at the bottom of the engraving, written in French, further emphasizes the connection between the woman and music, highlighting her role as a musician or patron of the arts. Humbelot’s etching conveys a sense of both beauty and skill, as the intricate details of the woman’s clothing and the musical instruments are rendered with precision.