"Stræben efter idealet". Italiensk æselrytter driver dyret frem ved at holde en visk hø på en stang for dets snude 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand's drawing, "Stræben efter idealet", presents a scene rendered with delicate pencil lines on paper. The subdued tones emphasize the figures of a man riding a donkey, the man holds a bundle of hay just out of reach of the donkey's mouth. This creates a whimsical, slightly melancholic atmosphere. The composition's effectiveness hinges on the diagonal pull created by the donkey, rider and hay. The positioning of the hay just beyond the donkey's reach creates a sense of unending pursuit. This visual metaphor underscores the drawing's title and its exploration of striving toward an ideal. The artist uses line and form to explore a sense of longing. The rough, sketchy quality of the lines destabilizes any sense of classical idealism. The drawing becomes an exercise in semiotics, with the donkey, rider, and hay serving as signs within a larger cultural code about aspiration and its potential futility. The piece encourages a deeper contemplation of the human condition, inviting us to consider the gap between the ideal and the real.