The Waterproof Coat of General Moltke 1871

Adolph Menzel created this study of General Moltke’s waterproof coat with graphite and wash on paper. Menzel, who lived through major political shifts in 19th century Germany, became a keen observer of Prussian society. Here, the coat becomes more than just a garment, it’s a symbol of power and military might. Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, was a key figure in the Prussian victories of the mid-19th century, especially during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 when this drawing was made. Menzel seems less interested in Moltke the man, and more intrigued by the trappings of authority. The coat, rendered with meticulous attention to its form and texture, drapes like a monument. The surrounding sketches, like whispers of other possibilities, add to the sense of a study in progress, a quest to understand the essence of leadership. It invites us to consider how clothing and objects can embody the weight of history and the complexities of identity.