Sitzender Oecolampadius als Aktfigur, mit einem Buch in der Rechten, die Linke zur Rede erhoben, aus dem _Ritter Hartmut von Kronberg bei dem Reformator Oecolampadius in Basel_ c. 1866 - 1867

Victor Müller sketched this nude study of Johannes Oecolampadius, a reformer, likely in preparation for a larger historical painting. The book in his right hand and his raised left hand are powerful symbols within the context of religious reform. Consider how the open book, often associated with knowledge and divine truth, has appeared across time, from ancient scrolls to illuminated manuscripts. The speaker's gesture, the raised hand, also resonates through history. Recall the classical orators of antiquity; this gesture signifies discourse and persuasion, appearing throughout Renaissance art, a visual language connecting the past and the present. But here, it acquires a deeper, psychological dimension. It embodies a moment of revelation and defiance. The act of speaking out, of challenging established norms, is a recurring motif deeply rooted in our collective memory. The image evokes a sense of intellectual and spiritual awakening, which captures the intensity and emotional power of the Reformation, a sentiment that powerfully engages viewers on a subconscious level.