The Old Fiddler's Dreams
| Artist | Victoria Ebbels Hutson Huntley (American, 1900–1971) |
|---|---|
| Title | The Old Fiddler's Dreams |
| Date | 1943 |
| Medium | Lithograph on paper |
| Dimensions | Image: 14 3/4 x 11 5/8 in. (37.5 x 29.5 cm) Sheet: 14 3/4 x 11 5/8 in. (37.5 x 29.5 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Thomas T. Solley, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 68.123.94 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
A seated man is playing a fiddle in the foreground while couple dances in the background at right.
Victoria Huntley's print recalls “Fiddler’s Dream,” an old fiddle tune originally from Scotland and Ireland that was played in America as early as the 1700s. Early titles from Scotland include the following: “The De’il Among the Tailors,” “Devil’s Tailor,” and “Devil’s Dream.”
In this image, the old fiddler plays as a young couple dances. The juxtaposition of youth and old age recalls the vanitas theme of the song’s final chorus:
Young devils find even they must grow old
Love that was always so warm has grown cold
Their sweet things have vanished and sweet dreams have flown
Sleep when it comes finds them sleeping alone
| Publisher | Associated American Artists |
|---|
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"The Old Fiddler's Dreams | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=68.123.94