Medea with her Younger Son Sleeping in her Arms 1866 - 1867

Anselm Feuerbach created this drawing, Medea with her Younger Son Sleeping in her Arms, using chalk on paper. The earth-toned paper is heavily worked, a chiaroscuro effect adding a dramatic sense. Look closely at how Feuerbach uses line and shadow to define the folds of Medea’s drapery. The fabric wraps around her body, creating a cocoon-like form that both conceals and reveals. Observe how the artist uses the texture of the chalk to convey the weight and density of the fabric. This evokes the emotional weight of Medea's story—a tale of love, betrayal, and infanticide. Consider, too, how the softness of the chalk contrasts with the starkness of the subject matter. This tension between form and content invites us to contemplate the complexities of human nature. Ultimately, Feuerbach challenges fixed interpretations, inviting us to grapple with the unsettling themes of Medea's myth.