The banquet of the rich man c. 1855

Victor Müller made this drawing called, The Banquet of the Rich Man, sometime in the 19th century. It's a sketch for a history painting that seems to draw upon Christian parables about wealth and poverty. The composition shows a divide between the well-off, feasting above, and the needy situated below. This contrast could have been quite pointed in the social context of the time. In 19th-century Europe, stark class differences were increasingly visible, and the question of economic justice was a major topic for social reformers and artists alike. Müller's work may be an early example of socially conscious art that reflects the growing awareness of inequality. To understand this drawing fully, we could research popular imagery, religious art, and the socio-economic conditions of 19th-century Germany. Considering these elements allows us to see the role of art as more than just aesthetic and appreciate its significance within a specific cultural and historical setting.