Kopf des Kindes und die darauf liegende Hand Hartmuts aus _Ritter Hartmut von Kronberg nimmt von seinen Angehörigen Abschied_ c. 1866 - 1867

Victor Müller created this sketch, “Head of the Child and Hartmut's Hand Lying on It from _Knight Hartmut von Kronberg Taking Leave of His Family_”, sometime in the 19th century. Müller came of age during a time of great social upheaval in Europe, after the Napoleonic wars, and the Revolutions of 1848. This drawing offers us a glimpse into Victorian-era sentiments on family, nationalism and masculinity. The study of the child’s head with a hand resting on top reveals a dynamic of care and protection. The hand ostensibly belongs to Knight Hartmut, who is also taking leave of his family. The drawing thus captures a tender moment within a scene of departure, resonating with the emotional weight of separation during wartime. We are left to consider the identities of those left behind, specifically, the vulnerable position of women and children left in the wake of war.