Junges Mädchen mit einem Buch am Boden sitzend, den Kopf in die Rechte gestützt 1851 - 1858

Victor Müller created this sketch of a young girl with graphite on paper while in Paris, sometime in the mid-19th century. The woman sits on the floor, the pages of her book holding her attention, with her head resting on her hand. During the 19th century, the act of reading, and who was allowed to engage in it, was fraught with social and political meaning. The image of a young woman reading could symbolize a range of ideas, from intellectual liberation to domestic virtue, depending on the context and the artist's intentions. In this case, the informal setting and the woman's introspective pose suggest a more personal and intimate experience of reading. The act of reading here allows for a moment of introspection. We are drawn into her private world, one where she is free to explore new ideas and perspectives.