Ansicht einer Stadt, im Vordergrund ein Waldfriedhof 

Victor Müller made this pencil drawing, called "View of a City, with a Forest Cemetery in the Foreground," sometime in the mid-19th century. It invites us to consider the visual codes of its time. The cultural references of the work point to a society grappling with modernity. The city in the background represents the burgeoning urban centers of 19th-century Europe. But the cemetery in the foreground offers a stark contrast, reminding us of mortality. The cross serves as a solemn marker, emphasizing the ever-present influence of religion. This was a time when the church was an important institution. To fully understand this work, further research into the social and institutional history of 19th-century Europe could be useful, and in particular the history of the city Müller lived in at the time. Ultimately, art like this is more than just a picture; it's a reflection of its time, shaped by cultural, social, and institutional forces.