At the sickbed 

Otto Scholderer’s ‘At the Sickbed’, currently residing in the Städel Museum, invites us into an intimate tableau of illness, rendered with soft pastels that evoke a sense of muted sorrow. The composition is structured around a contrast between light and shadow. The pale figure in the bed is framed by the darker forms of the elderly man and woman in the background. Scholderer uses a restricted palette, focusing on the subtle gradations within a narrow tonal range. This reinforces the emotional weight of the scene, suggesting themes of mortality and human connection. The visible strokes and the powdery texture of the pastels remind us of the artist's hand. This materiality infuses the scene with immediacy. The way Scholderer manipulates light and shade transforms the visual elements into something more profound, reflecting the delicate balance between life and death. The formal properties of the artwork are not merely aesthetic choices; they are integral to the narrative's emotional and philosophical depth.