The Choirstalls in the Mainz Cathedral 1869

Editor: This is Adolph Menzel’s “The Choirstalls in the Mainz Cathedral,” created in 1869. It’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’m immediately struck by how shadowy and detailed it is, almost dreamlike in its depiction of such an elaborate interior. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Dreamlike is a great word! For me, it evokes that fleeting feeling you get when you’re wandering through a grand, old space, utterly alone, as if time itself is holding its breath. The level of detail amidst the murk is masterful. It's a symphony of greys and browns, wouldn't you say? Look how Menzel captured the light filtering through the stained-glass, but somehow contains it. What does it tell us about his approach? Editor: Perhaps he was drawn to how light reveals the architecture. His handling feels precise and considered, yet retains a certain fogginess, like memory. Curator: Precisely! And, for me, that’s the genius – Menzel is not just documenting the physical space, but the *experience* of being in it. Imagine the weight of history pressing down from those carved figures above, the faint echo of chants... Does it spark anything within *you*? Editor: It does. The lone figure almost looks lost within the space, but dignified too. They seem to possess their solitude. Curator: Yes! They could be contemplating their place in a religious, historical, or perhaps existential setting? The whole scene, down to the painterly details on the architecture, radiates introspection. Editor: So, this artwork presents both an observed reality and the interior world of the person viewing it. I see what you mean about experiencing space and time in its essence, rather than documenting it. Curator: Wonderful. And maybe that’s why, after all this time, we can stand before it and get lost ourselves. What a painting!