Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een tekening getiteld 'Verschijning' 1879

This is a photo reproduction of a drawing entitled 'Verschijning', or 'Appearance' in English. While the artist is anonymous, the print is signed Liezen Mayer. The print depicts a scene that calls to mind the historical fascination with the idealised female form in a passive state. A semi-nude woman reclines, surrounded by ethereal figures. But where does the power lie in this encounter? Is it with the woman, whose beauty and vulnerability captivates, or with the male figure in the foreground, seemingly a spectator or conjurer of this vision? Such images often reflect and reinforce societal expectations around gender and desire. The woman is presented as an object of contemplation, while the male figure embodies the active, desiring gaze. Yet, the drawing invites us to consider the emotional undercurrents of such encounters, the tension between power and vulnerability, and the complex interplay of identities within the frame.