Kartusche mit Neptun und Gefolge 

This is Georg Melchior Kraus's "Kartusche mit Neptun und Gefolge", or "Cartouche with Neptune and Entourage" which is at the Städel Museum. Kraus was working in the late 18th century, amidst the Enlightenment, a period where intellectual and philosophical movements were reshaping society. The artwork depicts Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, surrounded by his retinue, a common subject in art meant to project power and authority. Kraus uses the mythological to talk about wealth and power. Consider how the figures are portrayed and the implications of this. Neptune, a male god, is central, commanding both the sea and those around him. His entourage is subservient, reinforcing the gendered power dynamics typical of the era. The piece evokes an emotional response tied to themes of control, dominance, and the established social order. It challenges us to reflect on the ways such representations both mirrored and perpetuated inequalities in 18th-century society.