Oberon, der indische Knabe und Titania c. 1867

This preliminary sketch by Victor Müller at the Städel Museum offers a glimpse into Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" centering on Titania, Oberon, and the Indian boy, characters symbolic of desire and power. Observe how the tension between Oberon and Titania revolves around the possession of this child, a potent symbol of dominion and a contested object of affection. The motif of the 'child' extends back to antiquity, think of the infant Bacchus held by nymphs, or even further to the divine child Horus in Egyptian art. Each instance represents fertility, new beginnings, and the cyclical nature of life. Consider the psychological weight of these symbols: The child, embodying innocence and potential, becomes a battleground for adult conflicts. The dream-like quality invites us to recognize the primal forces at play beneath the surface of courtly drama, resonating in the deep reservoirs of cultural memory and manifesting anew with each retelling.