Die Rückkehr des verlorenen Sohnes c. 1850 - 1853

This drawing, "The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Victor Müller, presents us with a delicate exploration of form and emotion. Rendered with graphite on paper, the composition is divided into two distinct yet connected zones. On the left, the son is crouched low to the ground. The artist uses faint lines to capture his weary posture, evoking a sense of humility. To the right we see a figure that can be identified as the father. Müller blurs the figure into the background, making it difficult to discern him in the light. This treatment doesn’t obscure its features, but rather makes the figure seem further away, both physically and emotionally. Müller uses the composition to emphasize the tension and the emotional distance between the figures. The sparseness of the drawing, with its understated lines and lack of detail, heightens the drama of the narrative. It is in this visual economy, that Müller invites us to reflect on themes of repentance and forgiveness.