Szene aus Goethes Iphigenie auf Tauris 

Bernhard Neher the Younger made this pencil drawing titled 'Scene from Goethe's Iphigenia in Tauris'. Neher's drawing visualizes a moment from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play, which was itself a modern adaptation of Euripides' ancient Greek drama. Made in Germany, at a time when the country was experiencing a period of cultural and intellectual flourishing known as the Weimar Classicism, this piece reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity and its values. Goethe’s play critiques the idea of barbaric infanticide present in ancient Greek plays, instead presenting a story of reconciliation. Neher's drawing, like Goethe’s play, participates in the project of reinterpreting Greek drama for a modern audience, imbuing it with contemporary moral and philosophical concerns. Understanding the image requires us to consider the broader social and intellectual context in which it was created. Further research into the history of Weimar Classicism, the reception of ancient Greek drama in Germany, and the biography of Goethe, are invaluable in fully understanding this work.