Siegfried catching the bear 

Karl Sandhaas created this pencil drawing, “Siegfried catching the bear,” in the early to mid-19th century. It illustrates a scene from the Germanic heroic saga, the Nibelungenlied. The saga and its characters have been interpreted and appropriated across different social and political contexts. During Sandhaas's time, there was growing interest in German folklore, leading to the revival of such tales. Siegfried, the heroic figure, is a symbol of strength and national identity. Here, Sandhaas depicts the hero mastering a chained bear. It can be seen as a display of dominance, reflecting the 19th century's interest in themes of power, control, and the relationship between humanity and nature. However, we might also see how Siegfried’s grip on the bear, while assertive, contains a moment of connection, almost of empathy. In light of the more recent re-imaginings of male identity, we can now see in Siegfried's story, and in Sandhaas' depiction of it, a desire to explore how heroic strength and vulnerability can co-exist.