Oberon, in der rechten Hand die Lanze haltend, stehend, nach links, sowie Körper, Arme und Profil des Oberon c. 1867 - 1868

Here is Paul Konewka's delicate drawing of Oberon with a lance, now held in the Städel Museum. At first glance, the figures are defined by a soft, almost ethereal quality due to the light touch of the pencil. Konewka uses line to delineate form, focusing on contour rather than volume, which gives the figures a sense of lightness. The composition’s careful arrangement invites us to consider the semiotic structure of the image. The figures, positioned within a shallow space, interact through gesture and gaze, elements laden with symbolic potential. What might these minimal strokes tell us about the artist’s intent? Is it to evoke the ephemeral nature of Oberon, a character from a world of myth and fantasy? The incompleteness of the drawing invites the viewer to participate in the act of creation, filling in the gaps and engaging with the narrative on a personal level. This act of interpretation becomes a critical part of the artwork's meaning, highlighting how art engages with our own perceptual and cognitive processes.