Versuchung, from the series Vom Tode Zweiter Teil 1870 - 1920

This is Max Klinger's etching, "Versuchung" or "Temptation," from his series "On Death II." It likely dates to the 1890s in Germany. Klinger was an important symbolist artist, who was never afraid to use mythological imagery to comment on modern social issues. Here, we see a wild, hairy man standing firm, holding a staff. To his left, a beautiful woman offers him a drink. It's a classic scene of temptation, perhaps Eve offering Adam the apple, but Klinger gives it a twist. The man is strong, but vulnerable, and the woman is alluring, but dangerous. German art in the late 19th century was at a crossroads, torn between tradition and modernity. Artists like Klinger used historical and mythological references to critique the rapid social changes that were reshaping German society. To fully understand this etching, we need to look at the cultural context in which it was made, turning to the written records of the period to learn more about this artist's world.