Illustrated Poem “The Violet” (Das Veilchen – Goethe) 1852

This is an illustrated poem, “The Violet,” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, made around the turn of the 19th century. The image presents a fusion of text and image, reflecting a culture steeped in both literary and visual traditions. Notice how the poem’s narrative is intertwined with the pastoral landscape, complete with grazing sheep. This idyllic setting speaks to the romanticized view of nature prevalent during that time in Germany. The figure of a shepherdess embodies a simple, virtuous life, echoing broader social ideals. The violet itself—modest and hidden—can be seen as a metaphor for humility and unnoticed beauty, values often upheld in the era's moral teachings. Publications such as this suggest a cultural landscape that values art as both a form of aesthetic expression and a carrier of social and moral values. To fully grasp its significance, explore the archives of literary societies and publishing houses of the period, and to reveal more about the dialogue between art, literature, and social values in Goethe's time.