Skizzenblatt_ Bogenschütze, Leierspieler mit phrygischer Mütze (Orpheus_), Trauernder (_), Hilfesuchender, Göttin (Athena oder Aphrodite_) 

This is a sketch sheet by Gustav Heinrich Naeke, an artist who lived during a time of significant social and political change in Europe. Naeke’s sketches provide insight into the artistic practices and cultural values of the early 19th century. Here we see studies of classical figures, reflecting a prevalent interest in antiquity and the idealization of the human form. Notice how Naeke invokes Orpheus, the lyre-playing musician of Greek myth. Orpheus’s music had the power to charm all living things and even পাথরের, suggesting an interest in the emotional and transformative power of art. The inclusion of both male and female figures also allows us to consider the gendering of particular qualities and roles. The figures are drawn with sensitivity and an eye for detail. As you stand with this work, consider what it means to look back at this period through the lens of our contemporary understanding of identity and representation. What stories do these figures tell us about the past, and what might they inspire us to create in the future?