Herkules und die Hydra 1915

Franz von Stuck painted Hercules and the Hydra with oil on canvas. Look at the mark making: See how the edges of each form dissolve and the figures seem to emerge from the gloom, as if forming themselves in front of your eyes? There’s something very physical about this work, even though it's based on mythology. The texture is quite smooth, and it seems that the paint has been applied in thin layers. The colour palette is reduced: blues, browns, and greys dominate to give it a sinister feel. See the way the green-yellow snakes heads seem to writhe and coil? Then notice Hercules’s muscular legs, so solid and grounded. It's like von Stuck wants us to really feel the struggle between man and beast. Von Stuck was a founder of the Munich Secession, and was known for his Symbolist works. He was exploring similar themes of power and beauty to people like Gustav Moreau, but in a distinctly German way. He leaves us with more questions than answers.