Nach links laufende Gestalten 

This is a pencil drawing titled ‘Nach links laufende Gestalten’, or ‘Figures Running to the Left’, by Victor Müller. Born in 1830, Müller lived through a period of immense social and political change in Europe, including the rise of nationalism and various revolutionary movements. In this sketch, it seems that Müller is grappling with the representation of movement and emotion. The figures, rendered in faint pencil lines, appear to be fleeing or rushing towards an unknown destination. Their forms are indistinct, almost ghostlike, as though they are dissolving into the very air around them. Given the historical context, one can’t help but wonder about the narratives embedded in this work. Are these figures running from war, persecution, or poverty? The lack of distinct detail invites us to project our own interpretations onto the scene, making the work intensely personal. It encourages reflection on themes of displacement, urgency, and the search for safety or freedom, reflecting both the artist's and our own emotional landscapes.