Otto Küchler auf dem Totenbett, von rechts 1896

This is a pencil drawing by Hans Thoma, titled "Otto Küchler auf dem Totenbett, von rechts," which translates to "Otto Küchler on his deathbed, from the right." Thoma made this intimate portrait of a man on his deathbed during a period of significant social and artistic change in Germany. During Thoma’s time, there was a prevailing cultural attitude towards death, where it was often sentimentalized. However, this drawing seems to offer a more direct and vulnerable expression of mortality. The image invites reflection on the finitude of human existence, and the visual language here rejects idealization in favor of an honest portrayal. The tenderness in Thoma's lines reveals a gentleness towards the subject; the subject is surrounded by flowers, highlighting the delicate balance between life and death. The drawing serves as a powerful reminder of our shared mortality, prompting us to consider our own experiences with loss, and how society processes grief.