Dan A. wrote:
I'd think that supporting the head end on the shoulder could put a crick in one's neck! Perhaps there is something that I, not being a flautist, am unaware of that would necessitate positioning one's head in that manner? It's a bit interesting to me. One advantage of taking up the flute, if I get a good teacher, would be lack of bad habits to un-learn...
Conal Ó Gráda does that. In his flute tutor book "An Fheadog Mhor," he has a section on how to hold the flute. He mentions that he rests the end of the head joint on his shoulder and then says don't do that, because it could cause problems. He doesn't say it's caused him any issues, but he doesn't recommend it. It's just a habit he picked up. By the way, that's an excellent tutor book with accompanying CD, available on his web site. Of all the ones I've bought it's been the most valuable.
Back to the mural.... like an earlier comment, I'm thinking this might be more artistic license than a realistic pose from life. No way to be sure, of course, but look at the way both hands are splayed out with a huge stretch between thumb and little finger. It's not to reach the tone holes, because those are closer together. Stretching your hand out like that reduces mobility of the middle fingers, and flute playing is all about keeping those fingers mobile. Try splaying out your hand and see what that feels like.