Sun King Anointing a Bound Couple, from August von Kotzebue's Die Sonnenjungfrau 1810 - 1883

Franz von Hauslab the Younger made this print, "Sun King Anointing a Bound Couple, from August von Kotzebue's Die Sonnenjungfrau," sometime in the early nineteenth century. It depicts a scene from a play that presents a romanticized view of ancient South American cultures. Looking closely, we see the visual codes of exoticism, such as the characters' stylized garments and headdresses. The high drama is underscored by the stark contrast between light and shadow. Consider the cultural context: the rise of Romanticism and its fascination with the primitive and the sublime. Plays like Kotzebue's provided European audiences with an escape into a world they imagined as purer and more authentic. Yet, they also reflect a European desire to dominate other cultures. Art historians analyze the way such images both reflected and shaped European attitudes toward non-Western cultures. Through careful research of the social and intellectual contexts of the time, we come to understand the complex ways in which art interacts with history.