Studies of Imaginary Woodland Creatures and Other Figures 1824 - 1871

Moritz von Schwind created this sheet of Studies of Imaginary Woodland Creatures and Other Figures with pen and brown ink sometime in the mid-19th century. Schwind lived in a German-speaking world newly enthralled by folklore and fairy tales. He made illustrations for classic stories and operas, and here, he explores his own mythical imaginings. We see figures in gentlemen's attire alongside ethereal beings and bizarre creatures. What are we to make of the juxtaposition of everyday life with the fantastic? As society industrialized and became more secular, there was an impulse among artists to reconnect with nature and the irrational. The popularity of folklore reflected a longing for a simpler, more spiritual past. In this light, the artwork can be seen as a conservative comment on the structures of its time. By studying the history of folklore, and the socio-political context of 19th-century Germany, we can learn to read these images anew.