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Original etching printed in black ink on laid paper. A superb 17th century/lifetime impression of Bartsch, Hind and Biorklund-Barnard’s first state of two, Usticke and New Hollstein’s first state of three, printed before the additional shading was added to the musicians hats and the baby’s neck.
Catalog: Bartsch 119 i/ii; Hind 142 i/ii; Biorklund-Barnard 38-8 i/ii; Usticke 119 i/iii; New Hollstein 141 i/iii
Framed size: 23 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches
This etching was called “Speelders an der deur” (Players at the door) in the 1679 inventory of the Amsterdam print publisher Clement de Jonghe. It shows an old man playing the hurdy-gurdy and a bagpiper with a dog performing for alms at the door of a house, where a man, woman and child listen to the music. It is a traditional subject that was also portrayed by other artists, such as David Vinckboons and Adriaen van Ostade. Rembrandt drew it on several occasions, including the motif of the dog tied to his master’s belt.
