Once upon a time 1891

Franz von Stuck painted ‘Once upon a time’ at a moment when artists were grappling with the weight of academic tradition while exploring new mythologies. Here, a princess gazes at a frog in a murky pond, and we are positioned to consider the classic fairytale. Stuck was working in a patriarchal society where women were often depicted as either virtuous or dangerous, an echo of which is seen in the contrast between the princess’s beauty and the frog's supposed ugliness. Her downcast gaze might suggest a moment of contemplation or perhaps resignation. The princess seems to be caught in a moment of quiet introspection, a pause before the next act. As viewers, we too are suspended, invited to ponder the deeper meanings embedded in this fairy tale, and how such stories shape our understanding of identity and destiny. Stuck uses the fairytale as a mirror, reflecting the societal expectations and inner lives of women.