"Das Verdienst" (Merit), Female Allegorical Figure c. 18th century

Curator: This drawing, attributed to Christian Keller, is titled "Das Verdienst," or "Merit," and presents a female allegorical figure. Editor: She looks formidable! The shield, the stern expression… there's a sense of power emanating from the sepia ink on this paper. Curator: Absolutely. The shield signifies protection, while the book and scepter represent knowledge and authority. Notice the laurel wreath, a classical symbol of victory and achievement. Editor: It’s interesting to consider how Keller achieved these effects with such a humble medium. The rapid, almost frantic, lines add to the dynamism. What was the social position of a draughtsman like Keller? Curator: During that era, these drawings often served as preliminary studies for larger works, like sculptures or paintings. They provided a foundation for conveying symbolic meaning. Editor: So, the materiality of the ink and paper, and Keller’s position, were subservient to a grander, perhaps unrealized, artistic vision. A sketch meant to achieve something of a more lasting symbolic significance. Curator: Precisely. The figure embodies enduring ideals; it makes you think about how symbols resonate across time. Editor: And how the materials and labor behind those symbols often fade into the background. Curator: It gives us a new perspective on merit, doesn’t it?