Satyrkopf (Entwurf für einen Majolikabrunnenkopf) 

Hans Thoma made this study for a majolica fountainhead, titled “Satyrkopf”, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Thoma, who lived from 1839 to 1924, situated himself in opposition to the industrial era by drawing from folklore and mythology in his artworks. This drawing is based on the figure of a satyr, a creature from Greek mythology known for its association with nature, wine, and revelry. Satyrs are typically depicted as half-human, half-goat, embodying a wild, untamed masculinity. Here, Thoma’s satyr has a distinctly human face, yet his furrowed brow and somewhat grotesque expression hint at a darker, more unrestrained side. In this drawing, Thoma appears to be toying with the boundaries between civilization and the primal instincts, between the human and the animal. It invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of identity, and the tension between our public selves and the desires we keep hidden from the world.