Zwei Brustbildnisse desselben sitzenden Mannes in unterschiedlicher Haltung 

Curator: This drawing, entitled "Zwei Brustbildnisse desselben sitzenden Mannes in unterschiedlicher Haltung," meaning "Two Bust Portraits of the Same Seated Man in Different Poses," is attributed to Peter Cornelius. The piece resides here in the Städel Museum and showcases Cornelius's masterful use of ink in drawing. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the duality, that feeling of two selves contained within one frame. The guy on the left is all poised and present, while the one on the right looks positively lost in thought, maybe even a bit melancholy. It’s a clever composition. Curator: Indeed. It is tempting to interpret them in opposition to each other. Cornelius, aligning himself with Neoclassical principles, frequently used portraiture to convey civic virtues and intellectual capabilities of his subjects. It’s very much a public presentation of self. Editor: So you're saying it's not just some guy having an existential crisis, captured twice? There's no room for, say, interpreting it as the external self versus the internal world? Curator: While that reading certainly isn't prohibited, I find it’s useful to contextualize within Cornelius’s broader engagement with creating images that bolstered public image and social roles. Think about the way neoclassical ideals were being deployed in shaping identity during this period. Editor: I get that, the historical perspective is critical. But looking at those delicate lines, the shading around the eyes…there’s a palpable vulnerability in that right portrait. Maybe Cornelius, even while aiming for an ideal, couldn't quite erase the human element. The artist seems to hint at complexities beyond those civic virtues. Curator: And those are very valid observations regarding the image itself. His subtle employment of shading creates just a hint of three-dimensionality. Editor: Right, he's giving you so much in just a few, quick, efficient strokes. All those thin lines create dimension that feel so precise, and really modern, actually. But regardless of how successful or failed his aspirations may be in public life or self reflection. In the end we only have the artist vision and experience of the portrait that prevails and resonates in modern-day. Curator: A crucial perspective! These drawings reflect on historical contexts and resonate due to Cornelius' masterful technical capabilities.