Demetrius mit Hut und Schwert, stehend, nach rechts c. 1867 - 1868

Curator: What a captivating image! This pencil drawing, “Demetrius mit Hut und Schwert, stehend, nach rechts” – or "Demetrius with Hat and Sword, Standing, Facing Right"– was created by Paul Konewka around 1867-1868. It currently resides here at the Städel Museum. Editor: My initial reaction is one of fragility. The lines are so delicate, almost ethereal. The unfinished nature makes it feel fleeting, as if the figure might fade away. Curator: I find it compelling to view this within the context of 19th-century portraiture. Konewka’s choice to depict Demetrius, this imposing figure of presumed authority, through such tentative lines presents an intriguing deconstruction of power and identity. Considering, especially, the growing anxieties about masculinity during this period, could this image be gesturing towards a sense of instability or perhaps vulnerability of the male ego? Editor: Possibly. However, the sparse lines create a dynamic sense of depth. The hatching around the legs, the suggestive planes defining the torso...these artistic choices, rather than undercutting the sitter’s authority, seem to grant it a strange energetic presence. Note, for example, the acute angles formed by his hat brim or the way the suggestion of fabric at the back mimics feathered wings. The Romantic spirit breathes throughout the piece. Curator: And consider who this Demetrius represents. Was Konewka potentially influenced by German nationalism and its effect on shaping heroic narratives during this period? Was Demetrius merely the selected name for Konewka to express his romantic notions? The intentional choice of a historical figure, shrouded in symbolism, adds additional layers to the interpretation beyond merely an artistic one. Editor: Indeed, it’s a lovely intersection of both—form informing our understanding of the historical and societal implications. Through our exchange, I appreciate the nuanced ways in which an apparently simple drawing evokes such a compelling interplay between structural expression and deeper cultural narratives. Curator: Yes, bringing awareness to these complexities through careful examination has definitely broadened my perception.