Puck, weit ausschreitend und in den erhobenen Armen einen Stab haltend c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: Here we have "Puck, weit ausschreitend und in den erhobenen Armen einen Stab haltend" or "Puck, Striding Out Widely and Holding a Staff in His Raised Arms," a pencil drawing rendered around 1867-1868 by the German artist Paul Konewka. It's held in the collection of the Städel Museum. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is its simplicity, even sparseness. Just a few lines bring Puck to life. There’s a raw energy, almost frantic in the way he's caught mid-stride, holding that stark, vertical staff. Curator: Absolutely. Konewka was working within a Romantic sensibility. This drawing exemplifies an attempt to capture the elusive, sometimes dark spirit of folklore. Puck, a figure deeply entrenched in European legend and specifically brought to vivid life by Shakespeare, is the trickster. He is mischief incarnate. This image attempts to render his wild, impish nature. Editor: The minimal strokes somehow amplify that sense of untamed energy. The lean, slightly awkward proportions of the figure emphasize his otherworldly quality, setting him apart from idealised classical nudes, for example. The pencilwork itself enhances this mood, being faint, soft, and a bit scratchy all at the same time. It gives us access to something fleeting, liminal, raw. Curator: He’s also divorced from any specific narrative here. We see Puck in a moment of dynamic potential—what's he about to do? Is he conjuring something, or leading us into the forest? It's really up to us to project the possibilities of this enduring mythological figure. Consider how the very lack of visual information—the negative space around the character—amplifies Puck's associations with wilderness. Editor: A beautiful point. The blankness surrounding the figure intensifies the mystery. There's a deliberate ambiguity that transcends just skillful rendering. I like how the composition highlights gesture. All the elements combine to invite us into that mysterious and playful energy, or what we might even interpret as dangerous—at any given time. Curator: Indeed. And on reflecting, I'm drawn again to that staff. I wonder if Konewka meant for it to be suggestive of ritual power? After all, staffs and wands often stand in for magical intent. Editor: Yes. And as a simple formal element it draws our eyes upward and opens a portal towards other dimensions. Well, this image really allows for imaginative associations to pour forth. Curator: It truly does. A lasting sketch.