"Weg der Befleckung" - "Sie liegt noch und schäft und traümt von mich" 1857 - 1920

Max Klinger created this intimate drawing titled "Weg der Befleckung" - "Sie liegt noch und schäft und traümt von mich". The piece offers us a glimpse into the artist's inner world during a period of significant cultural and social transformation. Klinger, working at a time when traditional artistic norms were being questioned, often explored themes of desire, anxiety, and the complex dynamics of human relationships. In this drawing, the depiction of a woman asleep, with the inscription indicating she dreams of the artist, raises questions about the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing and representing another person. The artist, a male, positions himself as the object of the woman's dreams. This narrative choice invites us to consider the male gaze and the ways in which women have historically been portrayed in art. What does it mean for Klinger to imagine himself in this way, and what does it reveal about the artist's own desires and insecurities? The drawing serves as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between art, identity, and the social forces that shape our perceptions.