Weiblicher Halbakt, aufwärts blickend 

Curator: This artwork, whose title translates to "Female Half-Nude, Looking Upward," is by Bernhard Neher the Younger. Created using charcoal on paper, it’s a drawing held here at the Städel Museum. Editor: First impressions? It feels…unfinished. Like a whispered promise, just a blush of color and form. The upward gaze gives her this yearning quality, a sense of fragile hopefulness. Curator: The absence of a firm date makes placing it within Neher's complete works challenging, but his association with Romanticism offers some insight. Consider the period's interest in emotion and the sublime. Does her expression resonate with that for you? Editor: Absolutely! It’s like she's not just looking up, but toward something ethereal, maybe even divine. I feel the influence of Romanticism deeply. What strikes me is how he captures the delicacy of the moment, that instant right before the feeling truly crests. You almost expect to hear her sigh. Curator: Indeed, and think about the role of the nude in art history, particularly during this time. The female form becomes a vehicle for conveying emotional and spiritual states. It moves beyond simple representation. What does this upward tilt do for the viewer? Editor: It forces you to consider what she’s seeing, but it is the negative space of possibility. What grand thing—or crushing disappointment—awaits? That tension between revealing and concealing is masterfully balanced. There is more shadow than definition, you can barely make out her breast and chest. Curator: That reminds me of the political complexities surrounding nudes in the 19th century. They were a common theme in academic settings. This portrayal serves to be one of intimacy. Editor: Well, for me, it conjures an almost private moment, catching someone unawares while they ponder something larger than themselves. It reminds me of standing alone looking into the clouds or a sky full of stars, imagining what is up there. It’s the quiet moment we’re often denied but constantly crave. I like this piece. Curator: It's certainly a drawing that encourages introspection, then, and allows the viewer to consider our emotional investments within these institutional settings. Editor: Totally! Thank you for providing great cultural insights!