Egeus, der über die Hochzeit Hermias spricht, mit angedeutetem Schwert c. 1867 - 1868

Editor: Here we have Paul Konewka's pencil drawing, "Egeus, der über die Hochzeit Hermias spricht, mit angedeutetem Schwert," circa 1867-68. The rapid, almost frantic lines give it such an animated feel, and his expression – I find it a little menacing. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The furiousness, certainly! I mean, you feel Egeus's thwarted anger practically leap off the page. But for me, it's also the… sparseness? Like, the *idea* of the character is all we get, the rest is sort of… implied? What do you make of the artist choosing *this* moment to capture? The "talking about," rather than, say, a full-blown dramatic confrontation? Editor: That's a great point – focusing on the *discussion* feels more internal, right? Rather than a flashy, performative scene, it suggests the real drama lies in the character’s psychology, his intentions. Curator: Precisely! Think about it, Konewka reduces everything to these skeletal lines. We aren’t seeing *what* is happening as much as *why*…and, perhaps, the turmoil leading to the *what*. Don’t you find something fascinating about the hinted-at sword? The danger in its unspoken possibility, the potential it represents… Editor: Absolutely! It transforms the whole drawing, adding an element of looming threat that is maybe more intense because it's understated. Well, I hadn't thought of the power of suggestion that way. This glimpse behind the curtain really enhances the artwork! Curator: It does, doesn’t it? It's all in the tantalizing potential!