Ein Krieger, der eine Frau im Arme hält, im Walde 

Victor Müller’s drawing, *A Warrior Holding a Woman in his Arms in the Forest*, uses graphite and chalk to render a tender, yet haunting scene. The drawing, built from layers of hatching, reveals the materiality of graphite and chalk, with their unique qualities of line and tone. The marks are direct, revealing the artist's hand. Notice how Müller coaxes depth from a limited palette, building form and atmosphere through careful application. The density of the graphite evokes the forest's shadowy depths, while the chalk lends a ghostly pallor to the figures. This drawing sits within a larger social and historical context. In the 19th century, the rise of industrialization led to a renewed interest in handcraft, and the expressive potential of drawing offered a direct connection to the artist’s inner world. This intimate scale allowed for a raw portrayal of human emotions, untouched by industrial processes. Müller’s choice of medium underscores a desire to capture the ephemeral, reflecting a yearning for authenticity in a rapidly changing world.