Links ein bärtiger Mann mit Turban (_), eine Frau umarmend, rechts sitzender weiblicher Rückenakt, dahinter eine weitere Gestalt 

Victor Müller made this sketch, whose title translates as "A Bearded Man with Turban on the Left, Embracing a Woman, a Seated Female Back Nude on the Right, with Another Figure Behind," sometime in the 19th century. It seems to be a study of a history painting that references non-European cultures. In the 19th century, the representation of non-Western people in art often reflected colonial attitudes and cultural appropriation, and the turbaned figure possibly exoticizes Middle Eastern or Asian cultures. Müller was part of a generation who worked in the shadow of the art academy but were also increasingly aware of the radical painting being produced in France. To understand Müller's work, we must investigate the cultural context of 19th-century Germany. The Städel Museum's archives may contain more information, shedding light on the artist's intentions and the societal norms that shaped his imagery. After all, the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.