Francis Flute als Thisbe mit Schwert, stehend, nach links c. 1867 - 1868

Editor: So, this drawing, "Francis Flute as Thisbe mit Schwert, stehend, nach links," circa 1867-1868, by Paul Konewka… It's pencil on paper and currently held at the Städel Museum. There’s a real lightness to it, almost ethereal. But I’m curious, what jumps out at you when you see it? Curator: Well, darling, isn’t it enchanting? The immediacy of the sketch, the wisp of a figure conjured from so few lines… it's almost as if we've caught a fleeting glimpse of Shakespeare’s world. See how Konewka captures not just the likeness, but the *performance*? Flute, a weaver, remember, awkwardly portraying Thisbe – tragedy undercut with comic reality. You almost feel sorry for the chap. Have you seen this character portrayed elsewhere? How does this pencil work hold up, would you say? Editor: That's interesting. I see the comedic potential now, the inherent awkwardness of the pose. In other works, say, Delacroix, theatrical figures always seem so assured. Here, it’s definitely more…vulnerable. Curator: Precisely! Konewka allows that vulnerability to breathe. His romanticism isn't grandiose, but deeply human. Look at the hesitant reach of the arm, the tentative placement of the feet! What does it remind *you* of? Do you see anything anachronistic? It feels utterly immediate, almost as if drawn from life. It reminds us that even high art draws from the messy stuff of living, the stumbling, imperfect efforts we all make to express something profound. And did you know Konewka started his artistic career creating silhouette portraits? Editor: Silhouette portraits? I didn't know that! I can definitely see how that might influence the linework here. I really thought this would be a straightforward drawing, but I like how much it plays with the contrast between comedy and tragedy. Thanks for your insight. Curator: My pleasure. It’s those unexpected juxtapositions that keep art eternally fascinating, wouldn't you say? It always leaves one changed.