Poetic Muse (reverse) 1897

Heinrich Kautsch made this silver plaquette called 'Poetic Muse' sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The imagery suggests a world of artistic inspiration which offers solace for deep pain. But this was also a world in which the institutions of art were rapidly changing. The old system of patronage was giving way to public museums and commercial galleries, and artists were increasingly aware of their place in a competitive market. The muse here is depicted in flowing robes that echo the Classical tradition. Yet she seems to be emerging from the clouds, as if to suggest poetry and artistic inspiration may be found everywhere, not only in ancient texts. To better understand this piece, we might look at the publishing industry of the time, or the development of copyright law. This would help us to understand the conditions of artistic production during Kautsch's lifetime. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context, and the role of the historian is to uncover these connections.