Stehender Mann in historischer Tracht 

Victor Müller sketched this standing man in historical garb with pencil at an unknown date. Observe how the figure holds a round shield, a potent symbol of defense and honor since antiquity. This motif echoes through time, from ancient Greek hoplites with their aspis to medieval knights bearing heraldic shields. Recall, too, the shield of Achilles, described by Homer, an entire cosmos wrought in bronze, embodying the world as the warrior protects. Here, though, the shield’s surface is blank, devoid of identifying marks. This absence speaks volumes. It suggests a universal archetype, not a specific hero, but mankind’s primal impulse to safeguard itself. It’s a gesture laden with psychological weight, appealing to our collective memory, evoking subconscious associations of courage, protection, and, perhaps, the hidden vulnerabilities we all seek to defend. This timeless symbol of the shield, ever-changing, continues to guard and define us.