Hearing (De Fiool Speelder) (c. 1649-58): Artwork and History

Hearing (De Fiool Speelder) (c. 1649-58) is in the Art Institute of Chicago collection. The museum lists its creator attribution as Cornelis Visscher (Dutch, c. 1629-1658) after Adriaen Brouwer (Flemish, 1605/06-1638).

The work and its context

The Art Institute of Chicago describes the work:

Cornelis Visscher completed a number of genre scenes during his career that portray satirical figures gathering in jovial settings. The Concert was made after a painting by Adriaen Brouwer, a Flemish artist known for his innovative peasant scenes. Famous for his striking realism, including unidealized drunkards, Brouwer allowed the viewer a glance at a boisterous world that makes no apologies for celebrating. This scene boasts energy and harmony, as the musician’s song narrates the suspicious characters’ actions. Though not his own design, it resonates with Visscher’s vision—one that captured the eccentricities of Dutch life.

Object facts

• Title: Hearing (De Fiool Speelder)
• Date: c. 1649-58
• Artist attribution: Cornelis Visscher (Dutch, c. 1629-1658) after Adriaen Brouwer (Flemish, 1605/06-1638)
• Place of origin: Holland
• Medium: Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
• Dimensions: Plate: 26.7 × 19.5 cm (10 9/16 × 7 11/16 in.); Sheet: 27.4 × 20.2 cm (10 13/16 × 8 in.)
• Type: Print
• Department: Prints and Drawings
• Reference number: 1923.1008

Collection credit

Gift of Horace S. Oakley

View the original

Explore the artwork in the Art Institute's collection, including its image and the museum's current catalogue details.

The description above is credited to the Art Institute of Chicago and reused under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; HTML formatting has been converted to plain text. Other catalogue metadata and the public-domain image are provided under CC0 1.0.