Konrad Mörlin, Benediktinerabt an St. Ulrich und Afra, Augsburg 1500

Curator: Here we have Hans Holbein the Elder’s, "Konrad Mörlin, Benedictine Abbot of St. Ulrich and Afra, Augsburg", made around 1500. It's a charcoal drawing. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Stark. I am struck by the sheer presence, even dominance, of the face. The almost comical features offset by the knowing eyes project authority. It feels…judgmental. Curator: Absolutely. Holbein's manipulation of charcoal allowed him to capture incredible textures—observe how he builds depth and shadow on Mörlin’s face. There is a real tension between the seeming softness of the lines and the uncompromising gaze of the subject. Consider the economics involved, the procurement of charcoal, the paper. Editor: It's also a study of power and identity. Monastic orders at that time were not merely religious institutions but political ones, often deeply embedded in local economies. Depicting Mörlin in such a manner highlights the intersection of religious and secular authority and also explores issues of gender in monastic orders in early modern Europe. Was this a form of propaganda, elevating him or something darker at play here? Curator: Interesting points. I am more interested in the processes that created it. There is something very tactile about it all, the way he builds layers with a stick of compressed carbon. It brings you closer to Holbein's studio, the hours, the deliberate strokes. Editor: Of course, but how does the labour you are mentioning reflect on the conditions in society? Consider how it also forces the viewer to consider social constructs—class, privilege—that allow for the production of this artwork and simultaneously cement Abbot Morlin's status. Curator: So, from the charcoal to the societal impact of monastic orders! An exciting perspective. Editor: I appreciate you guiding us through both the material composition and the deeper sociocultural significance present within Holbein’s drawing. A true intersection between hand and hegemony.