The Lutenist, Hendrick Martensz. Sorgh, 1661
oil on panel, h 51.5cm × w 38.5cm × t 6cm More details
A young man is singing and playing the lute on an open veranda. Where the woman’s thoughts have wandered is a mystery. The music and the theme of the paramours Pyramus and Thisbe in the painting in the background suggest that harmonious love is the subject. Yet the work may also be a warning against impulsive lust. Both interpretations are equally valid.
