Artwork

Young Girl at the Keyboard

Young Girl at the Keyboard, by Jacobus Buys, chalk, 1767
Young Girl at the Keyboard, by Jacobus Buys, chalk, 1767

Young Girl at the Keyboard is a chalk print by the Romanticist artist Jacobus Buys. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Young Girl at the Keyboard is a 1767 print by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel, executed in chalk manner with roulette and black ink on wove paper. This proof print captures a serene, intimate scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a youthful figure seated at a small table, engaged with an open music book. Her attire, including a loose dress and shawl, suggests a modest, perhaps old-fashioned setting. The focus on a young girl immersed in music implies a theme of quiet, personal pursuit.

Technique & Style

The artwork's soft, sketchy lines and rough texture, achieved through a combination of chalk and ink, convey a sense of spontaneity, resembling a quick study more than a polished work. The visible sheet music with lines and notes adds a layer of realism.

History & Provenance

Created in 1767, specific details about the print's history and ownership prior to its current location are not provided in the available information.

Context

While the print's style does not strictly align with the later Romantic movement, its emphasis on emotional intimacy and everyday life might draw comparisons with proto-Romantic or Enlightenment-era values emphasizing personal cultivation.

Legacy

The print's influence or reception over time is not detailed in the provided sources, leaving its impact on subsequent artists or art movements unspecified.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacobus Buys

Artist

Jacobus Buys

Jacobus Buys (1726–1798) was an artist, born in Weesp.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.