Drei beieinander liegende Lämmer 

Editor: This is "Drei beieinander liegende Lämmer," or "Three Lambs Lying Together," a pencil and graphite drawing on paper by Victor Müller, currently housed at the Städel Museum. I'm struck by the sketch-like quality, like a fleeting glimpse captured in a moment. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond its surface simplicity, consider how artists in the 19th century were engaging with notions of the pastoral, and using animal imagery to comment on society. The lack of finish, the almost casual nature of the sketch – is this an intentional subversion of idealized rural scenes so popular at the time? How does the institutional setting of the Städel shape our understanding of it now, as opposed to its original context, perhaps a personal sketchbook? Editor: That's a really interesting point about the pastoral tradition. I hadn't thought about it in terms of subversion. The Städel’s context certainly elevates it. Do you think the choice of lambs as opposed to, say, cattle, plays a specific role? Curator: Absolutely. Lambs often symbolize innocence and vulnerability. Müller, creating this during a time of considerable social upheaval and increasing industrialization, perhaps intended to evoke a sense of loss for a simpler, perhaps idealized, past? Or is it a critique of the vulnerability inherent in the natural world? Editor: So, the location in the Städel museum and its display today almost acts as a frame, creating a socio-political meaning that might not have been so apparent originally? Curator: Precisely! Museums inevitably influence our interpretation of artworks, shaping narratives and solidifying cultural values. They give these fragile lambs a monumental presence. Editor: That's fascinating, I never considered how much a museum’s context impacts my reading of a piece. Curator: Considering the layers of meaning embedded within the art and how they reflect the art world makes this unassuming sketch truly valuable. Editor: I will certainly remember to consider how and where the art is being viewed to affect its meaning. Thanks so much for pointing that out.