Group of Musicians Listening to a Flute Player

This drawing depicts four musicians in a barely-sketched interior. One is playing a flute and the other three are listening to him intently. The whole scene exudes spontaneity and was clearly drawn rapidly. The drawing is bathed in strong light coming from the top left. Rembrandt has successfully conveyed this by carefully placing a few deceptively simple clouds of wash on the lower right of his subjects.

Rembrandt had the rare ability to represent something using only the smallest number of lines. Here a few pen strokes are enough to represent an ornate upholstered chair. Careful squiggles indicate the flautist's hands and body, though his face and hat are more detailed. The man to his left, a rapt expression on his face, is rapidly executed. Next is a more detailed figure with luxuriant curls and a thick coat. Finally the man on the far left is so schematically represented that a thick ink comma is all Rembrandt used to sketch a closed eye and give the man the appearance of concentration.