Cornelis Visscher II, “Liereman”, c1650, after Adriaen van Ostade

Cornelis Visscher II (aka Cornelis Vischer) (1628/9–1658)

“Liereman”— hurdy-gurdy player, c1650, after a painting by Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline (with loss of the writing edge) and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 36 x 40.2 cm.

Hollstein Dutch 51 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Cornelis de Visscher, Cornelis Visscher, Hendrick Jansz Visscher, Lambert Visscher”, vol. 40, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 62, cat. no. 51).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: “A beggar family is playing music at a doorway. A boy is playing the violin and a man in torn clothes is playing his hurdy-gurdy. The rest of the children are standing around” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.191143).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1839-0413-188.

Condition: a strong impression, but one that has been slightly over-wiped (notably in the tree) and the affected areas have been replenished to minimise the visual distraction. Otherwise, the sheet is in a very good condition, trimmed around the image border line, with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this large etching of poor and dismally joyful musicians—consisting of what the British Museum describes as a “Hurdy-Gurdy player, a young violinist and other urchins” (inv. no. 1839,0413.188)—for AU$277 in total (currently US$183.61/EUR166.99/GBP142.73 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$277) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this hauntingly expressive etching (with engraving) of a destitute family begging (through music) for charity, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.