Zwei Männer in einer mittelalterlichen Gruft an einem Sarg 

Christian Sambach made this drawing of two men in a medieval crypt with pencil and grey wash. It encapsulates the late 18th-century fascination with the medieval period. Here, the architecture of the crypt, with its pointed arches, references the Gothic style. This reflects a broader cultural trend in Europe, known as the Gothic Revival, where artists and intellectuals rejected the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, and instead embraced the emotional intensity and spiritual depth they associated with the Middle Ages. The dramatic lighting and the figures' expressions enhance this sense of mystery and awe. Made in Germany, the drawing reflects a moment when artists were searching for new forms of expression. If we want to understand more about this artwork, we might research the Gothic Revival movement, or look into the artist's other works. This would help us to gain insight into the social and institutional context in which it was produced.