Der linke Flügel des Heller-Altares c. 1871

Eugen Klimsch made this drawing titled 'The Left Wing of the Heller Altarpiece' to show us the original painted altarpiece panels. This detailed study speaks volumes about the power of art institutions in shaping our understanding of the past. Klimsch, working within the context of 19th-century Germany, meticulously documented earlier artworks like this to preserve cultural heritage, a goal of the museum. The altarpiece itself, with its religious scenes, reflects the social and cultural values of its time. The choice of saints, their depiction, and the narrative scenes were deeply intertwined with religious and political power structures. To truly understand the image, we can dig into historical archives, religious texts, and studies of patronage. We might even consider how the display of this drawing in the Städel Museum impacts our contemporary understanding of history, religion, and the role of art itself.