Kopf eines alten Mannes nach rechts 

Curator: Here we have "Head of an Old Man, Facing Right," a compelling charcoal drawing attributed to Victor Müller. It resides here at the Städel Museum. Editor: It has such a pensive mood. The charcoal rendering lends this air of contemplation, and you immediately get the sense that the artist captures someone burdened with years of life experience. Curator: Indeed. Let's consider this work within the framework of 19th-century portraiture. How might we understand Müller’s approach to portraying aging, class, and the male subject, thinking about it in the context of evolving gender roles and societal hierarchies of the era? Editor: From my perspective, it is essential to first examine the tools, the materiality that makes it come alive. Look at the nuances in the charcoal application itself, varying pressure, smudging. Müller coaxes incredible textural contrasts using just charcoal, light against shadow, age, depth; the skill involved speaks volumes. I’d wager he employed a range of charcoal hardnesses and types, maybe even experimented with blending agents on different papers to build up those striking features. Curator: I find your focus on materiality insightful; considering that the sitter is presumably of an older generation and working-class due to his worn look, does the very deliberate, crafted medium also reflect a particular gaze and the values ascribed to labor? It allows us to reflect critically on how art perpetuates social narratives. Editor: Definitely, but I think it emphasizes his labor. The artistic act, rendered laboriously with the very elemental tools and material gives it depth, adding humanity to this older man's portrait, while being fully conscious of the material’s implications during its time. The labor, I think, reveals and elevates him and allows us to connect. Curator: Thank you. A valuable insight into how material agency allows narratives of aging and value to be constructed and perceived! Editor: Absolutely! Understanding material choices as artistic action enhances our overall understanding.