Köpfchen zur Einfassung der Veitschen Freskobilder im Städelschen Kunstinstitut 

Eugen Eduard Schäffer’s "Köpfchen zur Einfassung der Veitschen Freskobilder im Städelschen Kunstinstitut" is a pencil drawing presenting eight head studies, each encapsulated within a circular border. The arrangement suggests a systematic, almost taxonomic study of individual physiognomies. Each portrait, rendered in profile, is distinguished by subtle variations in headwear and facial features, inviting us to consider the semiotics of portraiture and the codes by which identity is constructed. Schäffer's methodical approach to representation prompts questions about the nature of replication versus interpretation. The use of pencil allows for delicate shading that models the contours of each face, lending a tactile quality to the figures. The circular format, echoing classical medallions, frames each subject. This contrast between the medium's inherent fragility and the portraits' classical framing encourages us to contemplate how art engages with and transforms historical modes of representation.