Nick Bottom mit Hut in der Rolle eines Tyrannen c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: Isn't he wonderfully goofy? I adore the unabashed theatrics of it. Editor: Indeed! This is Paul Konewka’s pencil drawing, “Nick Bottom mit Hut in der Rolle eines Tyrannen,” dating back to around 1867 or 1868. The Städel Museum is lucky to have this little sketch in its collection. Tell me, what do you make of it? Curator: Well, my first impression is pure comedy! Look at him, mid-flourish, with that ludicrous feathered hat. It’s all lightness and gesture; I can practically hear him booming out Shakespeare at the top of his lungs. Editor: The portrayal of Bottom—a weaver who aspires to act, only to comically transform—certainly captures a key tension. These comedic interpretations were central to subverting hierarchies on stage. What does this piece convey about performance and class? Curator: Oh, absolutely. It makes me wonder what the theatrical scene must have been like then, how this depiction would resonate with an audience grappling with social mobility and class pretensions. There is this sort of charming awkwardness too… It’s like watching someone embrace the spotlight, knowing full well they might trip! Editor: Konewka’s choice of Bottom in such an over-the-top pose prompts reflection about the portrayal of masculinity itself. How are we meant to see this bravado? Is it aspirational, ridiculous, tragic? All those possibilities live in one pencil sketch, don’t they? Curator: That’s the magic, isn't it? The freedom to feel both laughter and a touch of pathos for a character caught between grand dreams and perhaps... limited abilities? It feels deliciously human. Editor: It does invite us to reconsider whose stories are amplified. Seeing Konewka's interpretation of a character like Bottom, allows for critical engagement. Curator: Absolutely! And it all begins with a delightfully expressive sketch! Editor: Right! We began with the exuberance and end with a richer understanding of the artwork’s many interpretations.