Medieval figures 

Philipp Winterwerb created this drawing called 'Medieval figures' with pen and watercolour during the 19th century. The artist's revival of medieval aesthetics reflects the 19th-century interest in the past, but also illuminates contemporary ideas about identity and gender. The figures, seemingly aristocratic women, are adorned in elaborate garments that signify status. The visual emphasis on their clothing, the fine fabrics, and ornate details, speaks volumes about the social roles prescribed to them. Winterwerb presents not just historical figures, but also the romanticized notions of femininity that prevailed in his own time. The delicacy of the watercolor medium enhances the image and reinforces the idealized depiction of women. In an era of evolving gender roles, such images offered a lens through which to view the past and perhaps, to negotiate the present. The drawing invites us to reflect on how the past is continuously reinterpreted through the concerns and fantasies of the present. What do we choose to remember, and how does that shape our understanding of ourselves?