Einer der Richard III. heimsuchenden Geister, mit erhobenem rechten Arm, mit der Linken rückwärts weisend 

Curator: Look at the power in that arm raised towards the heavens! And then the accusing finger pointing back towards…what? There's such unresolved tension here. Editor: It does evoke a kind of anxious anticipation. This work, currently held at the Städel Museum, is by Victor Müller and is titled "One of the Ghosts Haunting Richard III, with Right Arm Raised, Pointing Backwards with the Left." Done in pencil and graphite on paper, it presents a very raw, visceral portrayal of inner turmoil. Curator: The title offers so much! We’re looking at a study, presumably for a history painting related to Shakespeare’s Richard III. Knowing that historical context frames the figure not just as a man but as a symbol of guilt and the consequences of tyranny. The pose becomes charged with the weight of that history. Editor: Precisely. Think about how theatrical portrayals, especially depictions of Shakespearean villains, contribute to a public understanding, even a judgment, of historical figures. Richard III has long been a figure of intense debate, used and re-used for different political purposes. Curator: And it raises questions of whose perspective we are seeing. Is this Müller’s commentary on power, the ghost’s lament, or perhaps even an internalized projection of Richard's own conscience? It really makes me consider the psychological impact of unchecked ambition, the ghosts of those who are trampled in the ascent. And how complicit those observing are. Editor: This drawing might even highlight the institutional framing of history itself. Müller presents this haunted, vulnerable Richard. Museums, and indeed Shakespeare’s plays themselves, are institutions shaping and maintaining narratives, perpetuating interpretations of powerful figures. Curator: By depicting Richard this way, it challenges the celebratory, power-centered representations often associated with historical figures. The ghost pointing back—is that not us? Society must see their implication in that very narrative! Editor: Absolutely, by presenting Richard through the ghost, the image encourages critical reflection on historical legacies and who has license to write it. Curator: It is, therefore, quite the conversation starter; both visually striking and historically layered. Editor: A potent reminder of art's ability to not only depict, but also to interrogate the narratives that shape us.