Oberon and Titania (_) c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: This delicate pencil drawing, made circa 1867-1868, is titled "Oberon and Titania." It is by Paul Konewka. I find it quite striking in its stark simplicity. Editor: There’s something ethereal about the linework. Almost hesitant, dreamlike. Do you get a sense of lightness? A dance of shadows? Curator: Absolutely, and that airy quality belies some very weighty symbolism. Konewka has chosen Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. These figures embody not only the power of the natural world but also deep psychological struggles with love, betrayal, and reconciliation. Editor: Interesting! I'm so curious about how that relates to the historical moment it was made. The Victorians were deeply fascinated by fairies, weren't they? This piece, I believe, exists in the Städel Museum Collection, isn't that so? Curator: Indeed. Fairy imagery gave voice to their fascination with the subconscious, sexuality, and the unknown. In many ways, Konewka's fairies offered an escape valve, a whimsical realm that served to address serious societal and personal issues under a veil of fantasy. The power of symbols in this romanticized pencil piece truly reflects the collective unconscious. Editor: Do you see how Konewka's choices might comment on Victorian ideals regarding power structures in relationships? The tensions they navigated... Curator: That’s a compelling reading. By using a scene from "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Konewka might have been suggesting a critical reevaluation of rigid Victorian conventions of social order and interpersonal relations, hidden beneath the accessible veneer of fairytale romance. Editor: The way he chose to represent it with such fragile materials—the simple pencil—almost enhances that subtle commentary, I think. Thanks for helping to illuminate those contextual dimensions; now when I gaze at this simple sketch, I know the socio-historical conversation the artwork invites us into is more nuanced than its line might suggest! Curator: It has been enriching exploring with you this example of visual cultural memory. A potent reminder of how much we can see anew with some art-historical sensitivity.