Liegender, auffahrender Hirte aus der _Verkündigung_ als Aktfigur c. 1856 - 1857

Victor Müller made this pencil drawing, *Liegender, auffahrender Hirte aus der Verkündigung als Aktfigur,* as a study for a painting. It depicts a nude male figure, originally intended to be a shepherd in an Annunciation scene. Note the tension between the idealized form and the everyday reality of the human body. Müller was part of a generation of German artists who sought to create a truly national art. The institutional demands of the academy, rooted in classical traditions, often clashed with desires for a more modern, socially relevant art. By examining Müller's preparatory sketches, we can gain insight into the artist's process and how he navigated these tensions. Art historians often consult letters, exhibition reviews, and other primary sources to understand the complex social and institutional forces that shaped artistic production. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.