Portfolio Cover to A Glove 1881

This is the portfolio cover to A Glove, made by Max Klinger, no later than 1920. Klinger was a German Symbolist printmaker, sculptor, and painter whose work engaged with social structures of his time. As a symbolist, his art moved away from representing the visible world. Instead, it tapped into the realm of dreams, emotions, and inner experiences. He embraced the technique of etching, which allowed for detailed and intricate imagery, and explored themes of love, death, and the human condition. Klinger's series “A Glove” became very famous. The image is quite simple, the title "A Glove" is in the center. However, one has to look beyond the surface and engage in research in socio-political contexts in order to see the cultural references and historical associations. Art history can show how the piece participates in broader conversations and intellectual debates. Analyzing artist's letters, and exhibition reviews in journals of the time are all resources to get a better understanding of the art itself.