The Five Senses. Allegory of Hearing 1630

"The Five Senses. Allegory of Hearing" is a 1630 painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Cornelisz Duyster, depicting a man seated in a room, playing a lute. The painting represents the sense of hearing, one of five allegorical figures representing the human senses. The lute player is dressed in a stylish attire, including a large hat, signifying the refinement of the art of music, and the use of light and shadow in the composition further enhances the visual representation of sound. The painting is an example of Duyster's skill in capturing the details of everyday life, and it is a testament to the importance of music in 17th-century Dutch society. Duyster specialized in painting portraits and genre scenes, and he is best known for his works that capture the daily life of ordinary people.