Neckerei 

Editor: Right now, we're looking at "Neckerei" by Franz von Stuck. The date isn't specified, and I can't be totally sure of the materials but it seems to be done with oils, perhaps with touches of watercolor. The painting has a playful, almost mischievous energy about it; like a fairytale forest encounter frozen in time. What's your take on it? Curator: Mischief is *exactly* the right word! Look at the figures. A satyr, of sorts, half-man, half-beast, caught in a seemingly awkward embrace with a tree – is he hiding? Is he trapped? Then, peeking from the other side of the trunk, a face – impish, blonde. It all speaks to a kind of delightful, dangerous game being played, don't you think? What feelings does that conjure up for you? Editor: Definitely some kind of game. A chase, perhaps? There’s something very theatrical about it, with the tree acting almost like a stage prop. Is there anything in the artist's biography that speaks to his inspiration for a scene like this? Curator: Stuck was rather obsessed with mythological themes and a fascination with temptation. He’s presenting a world where our civilized veneer is thin, where instinct and desire lurk just beneath the surface. This painting makes me question whether these stories have a timeless quality because these struggles are forever with us, and not merely something 'of the past'. What do you think of that? Editor: Interesting point. I guess that raw feeling translates even now. The painting definitely makes you think. Thanks for the illuminating perspectives! Curator: Absolutely! And thank *you* for helping me rediscover the delightful wickedness hiding within "Neckerei"! It's an enduring puzzle box of human behavior, really.