Karikatur auf die Administration des Städelschen Kunstinstituts, darüber Studie eines Gesichts 1890

Emil Rumpf created this caricature of the administration at the Städel Art Institute with a pencil sometime between 1884 and 1915. During this time, Germany underwent rapid industrialization and social change, impacting artistic institutions. Rumpf’s caricature offers a critical commentary on the individuals who shaped the Städel Institute. The exaggerated features and absurd situations depicted challenge the authority and self-importance of the administration. The drawing serves as a form of institutional critique, reflecting broader societal tensions and power dynamics. What does it mean to satirize the faces that decide what art is worth? This work serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of art and the importance of questioning established norms. Rumpf’s caricature becomes a mirror reflecting the artist’s sentiments about social issues.