Studienblatt_ Drei Figuren, ein Pferd 

Editor: This is "Studienblatt_ Drei Figuren, ein Pferd," a pencil drawing housed here at the Städel Museum, by Rudolf Gudden. It's so raw, you can practically feel the artist's hand moving across the page. What narrative do you see in these figures? Curator: What immediately strikes me is the contrast between the seeming simplicity of the sketch and the potential social commentary it holds. Consider the time it was created and the role of the horse. What class would own the horse and have it captured in this artwork, in your opinion? Editor: Wealthy, probably aristocracy. There's a level of privilege associated with owning and being portrayed with a horse. But how does the figure in the cloak fit in? Curator: Exactly! Now, consider how art institutions, historically, have favored the portrayal of that social echelon, therefore solidifying these societal roles. It almost seems he is an observer here, so how does the artist make his presence seem political? Editor: The cloaked figure feels almost like an intruder. Like someone witnessing something private, even decadent. Gudden sets them in the same plane of importance as the animal that suggests such an exclusive realm. It makes you question what "studying" means, is it to simply to master line or subject matter, or is Gudden capturing something more complex about societal power structures? Curator: Precisely! It also makes you wonder who he is working to support, if indeed this can be a politically-charged piece. By making them share pictorial space the power dynamic between these societal players can not be ignored, can it? This goes beyond a simple study; it raises questions about representation and viewership. Editor: I see your point! It reframes the "study" itself as a statement. I had not initially seen all that depth in the art! Curator: Hopefully next time you come across art, especially something like this study, you are able to consider the cultural forces, especially class. In thinking through who is favored in museums you are also challenging museums in how and what we should capture today, or should change how it occurred in the past.