Kopf und Bein des Egeus, der über die Hochzeit Hermias spricht c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: Today, we’re looking at Paul Konewka’s "Kopf und Bein des Egeus, der über die Hochzeit Hermias spricht," dating from 1867-68, currently residing at the Städel Museum. It’s a pencil sketch depicting a figure from, presumably, a theatrical production. Editor: Immediately striking is the ephemeral quality—these fragile, almost hesitant lines suggesting form. The weightiness of the head in contrast to the linearity of the leg gives it an ethereal quality. Curator: That feeling of the ethereal ties into Konewka's moment and the larger societal context. Theater held incredible public sway at the time, influencing politics, social structures, and moral codes. Konewka himself gained noteriety with his shadow-puppet illustrations. This figure of Egeus embodies a kind of patriarchal authority challenged within "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and, by extension, in the societal movements of the 19th century. Editor: You read the societal challenges from such spare markings? For me, the composition is the key. The curve of the calf is particularly compelling, echoing the curve of the chin and beard above. It gives the figure a contained energy, like a coiled spring, despite the incomplete form. And those faint indications of shadow play upon the negative space in fascinating ways! Curator: Shadows being what Konewka explored, what a legacy. The lightness of the medium perhaps reveals an element of how such authority started to dissolve in German society, and this work captures a moment of questioning social conventions, a debate Konewka would have known well. Editor: Indeed, a discussion held with nothing but a few masterful pencil strokes, achieving a potent visual statement! It's quite stunning. Curator: Yes, Konewka uses simple lines to tap into a much grander discussion about changing authority. Editor: I walk away intrigued by what's not said just by his artistry in drawing those curves.