Two riders 1891

Editor: So, this is "Two Riders," an 1891 ink drawing on paper by Hans Thoma, housed here at the Städel Museum. It feels… both romantic and a little ominous, maybe? What catches your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: What strikes me is the almost performative aspect of this romantic ideal. Thoma is working in a period of intense nationalism and longing for a romanticized past, often depicted in idyllic landscapes with figures. Editor: Performative? Can you expand on that? Curator: The image doesn't simply present a scene; it stages a kind of longing. Look at the detail in the figures compared to the landscape, see how that pulls you in. Do you think the average viewer felt part of some heroic narrative being offered here? Editor: I see what you mean, especially with the imposing tree on the left and those clouds, and that it does appear to want me to see myself as an active viewer involved in this landscape... What sort of heroic narrative are you hinting at? Curator: This could evoke a connection to German folklore or perhaps, more problematically, serve to naturalize ideas of national identity rooted in the land, very popular amongst the urban bourgeoise at the time. Does this seem connected to other landscapes we have looked at this week? Editor: Yeah, it definitely connects to that wave of artwork aiming to reconnect urban dwellers with their rural heritage, or at least an idea of it. Curator: Exactly. And remember, museums at this time played a crucial role in shaping those ideas, didn't they? This small work speaks to the politics embedded in even the seemingly innocent portrayal of the land and those who traverse it. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered how museums might reinforce those kinds of narratives through landscape drawings. Thank you! Curator: Of course. It's important to consider how art is both a product and a shaper of cultural values. I think we both learned something today!