Fight over the wreath c. 1866

Victor Müller created this drawing called ‘Fight over the Wreath’, now at the Städel Museum, using pencil on paper. The initial impression is one of dynamic motion, with figures swirling within an oval frame. The composition is dominated by intertwining bodies, their limbs reaching and straining, all rendered with delicate, almost ethereal lines. Müller's use of line is particularly striking. It is through these lines that we perceive the struggle for the wreath, a classical symbol of victory or achievement. This use of the struggle destabilizes established meanings, values, or categories. The semiotic system at play is rich with cultural codes. The wreath itself is a signifier of honor, while the struggle suggests themes of ambition, conflict, and perhaps the fleeting nature of glory. The grid-like structure hints at the architectural placement of the work, likely as a ceiling fresco or a similar decorative element. The drawing functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse about ambition, achievement, and the human condition.