Head of the _reading woman_ 1851 - 1858

Victor Müller made this study of a woman’s head, in charcoal, at an unknown date. The image is evocative in its quiet intimacy. Although undated, Müller was working in Germany from 1830 onwards, in a period when academic institutions were setting the standards for art. This study is likely connected to the wider culture of life-drawing classes. The academies sought to make their students masters of anatomy and form. As such, it likely represents an academic exercise. Yet it is not simply a technical study. The model’s closed eyes suggest not just observation but imagination. The Städel Museum, where this work now resides, was founded in the early 19th century, amidst the rise of museums as public institutions of national culture. Understanding its place in society means considering both the artist’s intentions, and the institutions that supported and displayed the work. By looking at exhibition records and artists' biographies, we can begin to understand the social life of art.