Mädchen hinter einer Brüstung, mit Schafen Possibly 1872 - 1874

Curator: Looking at this pencil drawing, the composition seems to capture a quiet, almost secretive moment. Editor: Yes, quiet is the perfect word. It feels like peering into someone's memory, a gentle wisp of a thought barely formed. Curator: It’s titled "Mädchen hinter einer Brüstung, mit Schafen," which translates to "Girl behind a parapet, with sheep." Otto Scholderer possibly created this work sometime between 1872 and 1874. It is currently held in the Städel Museum. Editor: The sheep especially... they almost seem like clouds, not really grounded. And that girl! She has the face of an angel. The whole piece makes me feel... nostalgic, maybe for something I never knew. Do you think Scholderer was drawn to children as symbols of innocence? Curator: Absolutely, the portrayal of children often carried strong symbolic weight, especially during the Victorian era. Think of the Romantic movement's obsession with childhood as a state of unspoiled purity, contrasting the industrial world. In some readings, children are icons for the possibilities inherent in human nature. But the combination with the sheep can create something like an Arcadian trope too. Editor: Arcadia, yes, I see that. It makes me wonder if there's a contrast intended – the cultivated "safety" of the wall versus a potentially wild, uncontrolled natural world. The parapet she is hiding behind looks heavy, almost restrictive. The sheep seem to peer back towards her. Curator: Interesting point. The architecture and the natural setting add depth, framing the girl within layers of social constructs and natural life. It suggests perhaps, her own transition from youth to maturity? It raises all these interesting questions on what it means to create, imagine and explore in a shifting landscape. Editor: That's a nice thought. It leaves you pondering where she goes next after this gentle contemplation of life through art. It does the work. Curator: It certainly invites that kind of contemplative experience and reflection. Thanks for sharing yours, it enriched my reading too.