Castle ruins in a mountain landscape 

Victor Müller made this ink drawing of castle ruins in a mountain landscape sometime in the 19th century. The image reflects a broad cultural preoccupation with ruins and the romanticisation of the past, which was very common at the time across Europe. Castles and ruins were not simply buildings; they were symbols loaded with historical, social, and political meaning. In the German context, ruins often evoked a sense of national identity, linking the present to a heroic medieval past. Artists like Müller were instrumental in shaping this vision through their depictions of idealized landscapes dotted with such evocative remnants. To understand this drawing better, we can look at the art criticism and cultural histories of the period, examining its contribution to the construction of national identity. Understanding Müller’s artistic choices requires that we appreciate the social and institutional contexts in which his art was produced and displayed.