Isolde An Tristan’s Leiche 1876

Wilhelm von Kaulbach made this print, Isolde An Tristan’s Leiche, sometime in the nineteenth century, inspired by a medieval legend. It depicts the tragic climax of the Tristan and Isolde story. Consider the cultural context in which von Kaulbach was working. The 1800s saw a surge of interest in folklore. Here we can see the artist looking to ancient stories for subject matter. These narratives offered artists dramatic, emotional themes that resonated with the Romantic movement. The legend of Tristan and Isolde, with its themes of forbidden love, loyalty, and death, was ripe for artistic interpretation in the 19th century. The image is heavy with symbolism. Isolde’s pose is very theatrical. Her dramatic gesture suggests a sense of desperation and anguish. We can see the cultural values of the time reflected in its focus on intense emotions and dramatic storytelling. To understand this work more fully, we might research 19th-century German art, the Romantic movement, and the cultural interest in medieval legends. These historical and cultural contexts help us appreciate the depth and complexity of this print.