Ophelia as nude 

Curator: Here we have a drawing by Victor Müller, "Ophelia as nude," which currently resides in the Städel Museum's collection. The work employs chalk and pencil on paper, offering a study of figuration. Editor: It strikes me immediately as both vulnerable and assertive. There’s a fragility in the incompleteness of the face, the bare sketch, yet the pose exudes confidence, almost a challenge to the viewer. Curator: The portrayal of Ophelia, often seen as a victim in art, raises questions about agency. Historically, depictions of Ophelia tend to focus on her madness and death, fitting within broader narratives about female hysteria and the tragic fate of women silenced by patriarchal structures. Editor: Exactly. And situating this within Victorian art production and reception is key, considering the power dynamics and the male gaze that frequently objectified female figures. Müller’s approach, even in a preliminary drawing, subverts the demure norm through this empowered pose. How did the social and political contexts of the time affect Müller’s presentation? Curator: That is the question! Consider the rise of aestheticism and challenges to Victorian morality—there was a growing tension and a need to confront accepted standards. Müller was working within, but also arguably against, a society grappling with evolving understandings of sexuality and identity. How this sketch relates to Shakespeare's original depiction of Ophelia adds another interesting layer. Editor: Indeed. While the work is an exploration of form and figure, we should resist isolating art from social critique, ensuring contemporary understandings of power and representation inform analysis. Curator: So how this portrayal contributes to and differs from other pieces concerning the "female body" and societal assumptions and narratives about "Woman." Thank you, for providing insight, on your interpretation, from a philosophical angle, as someone concerned with today's narrative! Editor: Always happy to lend perspective! Art invites engagement. I think hopefully, after our remarks, museum guests might walk away to confront the "how and why" surrounding its making.