Hartmut und Umstehende aus _Ritter Hartmut von Kronberg nimmt von seinen Angehörigen Abschied_ c. 1866 - 1867

Victor Müller made this drawing at an unknown date, now located in the Städel Museum. It is a study of Hartmut and those around him from the painting "Ritter Hartmut von Kronberg nimmt von seinen Angehörigen Abschied". Müller lived through a time of massive social upheaval and revolution in Europe. His interest in historical painting, such as this one, often romanticized the past. It's hard not to consider this embrace of history as he struggled to find his own place within the rapidly changing world. Here, Hartmut's gesture seems less about heroic departure and more about an intimate farewell. The sketch-like quality of the drawing adds to the feeling of something fleeting, a private moment caught in time. What does it mean to represent a knight not as a figure of strength but as someone vulnerable? What are the implications of portraying male vulnerability in the context of war and honor? This drawing invites us to consider how personal relationships and emotions intersect with historical narratives and representations of masculinity.