Study sheet_ figures 

Peter Becker made this study sheet of figures with a pencil, and it now resides in the Städel Museum. The sheet presents us with a glimpse into the artist's working process, and hints at the social and cultural context in which Becker was operating. The figures depicted, with their distinctive clothing, offer clues about the social classes and norms of the time. The gentleman in the top hat, for example, speaks to the rise of the bourgeois class in 19th-century Germany. The clothing of other figures suggests the presence of a rural population with a more traditional culture. By examining details such as clothing and posture, we gain insight into the social dynamics that shaped the artist's vision. Researching the history of fashion, the growth of Frankfurt as a financial center, and the institutional history of the Städel Museum allows a deeper understanding of the interplay between art, society, and culture. This makes us appreciate the importance of historical context in the interpretation of art.