Engel mit Spruchband nach links, in einem Zwickel 

Bernhard Neher the Younger created this drawing of an angel holding a scroll. Born in Munich in 1806, Neher’s artistic output should be understood in the context of his time. Following the Napoleonic era, a sense of cultural and national identity was being re-established across Europe, and artists often looked to history, religion, and folklore for inspiration. The delicate treatment of the angel, with its careful rendering of light and shadow, speaks to a sense of idealized beauty but also serves to reinforce traditional gender roles through its representation of a feminine figure. The angel’s scroll could be seen to represent the passing on of knowledge and wisdom, yet it also carries with it notions of authority and tradition, prompting us to consider what narratives it might be preserving or challenging. How might we imagine alternative stories or perspectives that could be represented? Consider the histories and experiences which have been left unwritten.