Hansel 

Wilhelm von Kaulbach painted 'Hansel' using oil paint. The somber mood emanates from the muted palette, dominated by earthy browns and grays, that cloaks both the figure and the textured stone wall behind him. The boy stands slightly off-center, creating an asymmetrical balance that subtly destabilizes any conventional narrative. Kaulbach seems less interested in straightforward storytelling, and more focused on capturing a moment of quiet introspection. The roughly textured wall, rendered with visible brushstrokes, acts as a foil to the smoother handling of the boy's clothing and skin, creating a tactile contrast. The overall composition is a study in contrasts: smooth versus rough, light versus shadow, innocence versus the harsh realities implied by the setting. Kaulbach's masterful use of these formal elements invites us to contemplate the complexities inherent in this seemingly simple image.