Die Bucher Der Chronika Der Drei Schwestern 1 1900

This image was made by the Austrian artist Heinrich Lefler, most likely as an illustration for a book of fairy tales. It depicts a scene of high drama in which a Count is confronted by a bear in the woods. The composition is divided between the Count on the left, who is thin and pale, and the bear on the right, who is dark and imposing. The way the bear speaks to the Count suggests that the natural world can be a source of reason and justice. This image belongs to a long tradition of German Romanticism, which stretches back to the late eighteenth century. It’s a tradition that associates the forest with ancient folk wisdom and sees it as a source of national identity. Lefler was deeply interested in the history and customs of his country. Historians use sources such as folk tales and popular songs to get a deeper understanding of the social and cultural values of a time. Fairy tales are always about more than just entertainment. They communicate underlying values and assumptions.