Straßentypen aus Frankfurt, meist Soldaten c. 1792 - 1796

Editor: So, this is "Straßentypen aus Frankfurt, meist Soldaten," or "Street Types from Frankfurt, Mostly Soldiers," created with ink on paper by Johann Friedrich Morgenstern around 1792-1796. It feels almost like a quick sketch, yet there’s a real focus on the detail of their uniforms. What do you see in this piece, beyond just historical documentation? Curator: Ah, yes, Morgenstern's glimpse into Frankfurt's street life! It’s tempting to see them merely as figures from a bygone era, trapped in amber. But look closer – there's an undeniable Romantic sensibility peeking through, wouldn’t you agree? Think of it: a society on the cusp of change, anxieties about war... Look at how his subjects carry themselves: it’s not simply ‘militaristic’; there's an almost… performative unease there. Almost a caricature, you could say. Does the detail seem perhaps TOO focused on military life to you? Almost satirical, don’t you think? Editor: Satirical, definitely! It’s like he's observing them with a bit of a raised eyebrow. I hadn't really considered the Romantic context so much, though. So you see him maybe making more of a commentary on society and anxieties more generally instead of documenting it neutrally? Curator: Exactly! Documentation can still be art. The best art can even feel like walking on an emotional tightrope between historical context and personal response! I get a sense of the latter here, very much a feel for the atmosphere of the period in my gut. Perhaps this connects him even more deeply with us now as well, I don't know. It is rather good fun to see the past like this, isn’t it? Editor: It is! I see the potential satire you mention now too, after considering the anxiety of that period. Thanks for providing that perspective! It enriches it quite a bit! Curator: My pleasure! And perhaps, you know, Morgenstern is enjoying it too! We must always give an artist a chance to make us smile along with them from beyond the grave as well, hmmm?