Oberon, in der rechten Hand die Lanze haltend, stehend, nach links c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: I’m immediately struck by the ethereal quality of this sketch; it’s almost like a ghost caught on paper, poised and powerful even in its minimalist state. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at "Oberon, in der rechten Hand die Lanze haltend, stehend, nach links"—or "Oberon, Holding the Lance in his Right Hand, Standing, Facing Left"—a pencil drawing crafted circa 1867-1868 by Paul Konewka, residing here at the Städel Museum. Curator: Oberon, the king of fairies, right? He looks so dignified, not at all like those mischievous sprites Shakespeare made him hang out with! Editor: His rendering is strikingly sparse—merely an outline—yet somehow conveys a sense of presence. It's intriguing how Konewka uses line, or perhaps the suggestion of line, to construct both form and mood. Curator: I’m particularly drawn to how the figure is placed on this ragged piece of paper, that contrasts beautifully. You can almost feel him about to step out of the realm of fairytale and into…well, what? Our reality? Another story entirely? Editor: The silhouette itself is a potent choice. Without interior modeling, we're invited to project our own interpretations onto him. Semiotically, he becomes a vessel, an archetype stripped down to its most essential signifiers. Curator: And I keep coming back to that spear—or lance, as the title calls it. He doesn’t just hold it; he *commands* it. It's less an accoutrement, and more an extension of his will, perhaps? Editor: Exactly. It creates a vertical thrust bisecting the figure's static pose. The artwork presents a tension between stillness and latent power—a theme ripe with Romantic implications. Curator: So, as we move on, I'll be picturing Oberon marching off the page, looking for new stories. A sketch can be such a fertile, potent thing. Editor: A potent example of suggestion, indeed. Leaving the viewer with so much more to ponder, a true mark of masterful restraint and formal acuity.