Sitzende und Stehende aus der _Vorbereitung zum Kostümball_ c. 1879 - 1880

Otto Scholderer captured these figures with charcoal in _Sitzende und Stehende aus der Vorbereitung zum Kostümball_. Notice the standing woman, her hand delicately placed upon her chest. This gesture is hardly unique; we see it echoed across centuries, from depictions of classical orators to portraits of royalty. Often, it signifies sincerity, or perhaps a humble assertion of truth. Yet, its interpretation shifts with context; what was once a symbol of trustworthiness could, in another era, suggest modesty or even vulnerability. This motif resonates deeply within the collective subconscious. It taps into primal emotions of trust, doubt, and self-awareness. The woman's gesture, passed down through time, reminds us that cultural symbols are never static, that they resurface in altered forms, carrying fragments of past meanings into the present. It evolves, yet remains, engaging us on an emotional level.