Reichsteilungsszene_ Lear, Goneril und Regan sowie Cordelia c. 1868 - 1871

Victor Müller sketched with graphite this depiction of 'King Lear' in the 19th century, capturing the fraught moment of the kingdom's division. Note the central figure of Lear, his posture and expression weighted with the burden of his decision, echoed in the attentive stillness of his daughters, each poised to receive their share. The act of kneeling is powerfully present in the image: Cordelia kneels not to receive land but to express despair. Consider the recurrent image of kneeling throughout history, from religious supplication to acts of fealty. It resurfaces in countless contexts, a gesture laden with shifting implications of submission and reverence, each instance colored by its specific historical and cultural landscape. The emotional intensity of this family drama, rendered in Müller's sketch, engages us on a deep, almost subconscious level, demonstrating the power of visual symbols to evoke complex human experiences. It is a timeless tableau of familial discord and flawed judgment.