Title Page from Eva und die Zukunft (Rad.-Werk III) 1898

This is the title page of "Eva and the Future", a series of six etchings imagined and etched by Max Klinger in Germany. The sixth edition was printed in Leipzig in 1898. Klinger was part of the Symbolist movement, an aesthetic that rejected realism in favour of subjective and sometimes irrational subjects. This title page alludes to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, but also introduces a theme of modernity, referencing “the future” as a kind of sequel to the fall from Paradise. Klinger was interested in the psychological, social, and sexual implications of modern life, and he uses the story of Adam and Eve as a way to explore these topics. The words “Verlag und Eigenthum des Künstlers” tell us that Klinger was publishing the portfolio himself. In doing so, he was challenging the traditional art market and asserting his independence as an artist. Art historians are interested in understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production, and, in this case, that means understanding the changing role of the artist in society. We can use sources such as letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews to gain a better understanding of Klinger's world and the art he created.