Street Musicians at the Door

[1][2] The scene reflects the morés of the time, in which beggars were expected to perform some small service (in this case, playing music) that they could be paid for.

[6] The painting style of Street Musicians at the Door uses variations in color and technique to contrast the two worlds that it depicts.

[4] The exterior streetscape leading to a church is again drawn in perspective,[7] but appears flattened, muted, darkened, and roughly painted.

[4] The people in the painting, similarly, are shown in different styles, contrasting the dignified faces of the women with the more caricatured depiction of the musicians.

[2] Two more of Ochtervelt's entrance hall paintings also depict scenes with street musicians;[5] others include sellers of fish and produce, similarly shown through the door of a home.