New Dreams of Happiness (from the series A Love)

Art Historical Context

"New Dreams of Happiness" is a captivating print from Max Klinger's ambitious series *A Love* (1887–1903), a monumental cycle of etchings exploring themes of passion, fantasy, and the human psyche. Created during the fin-de-siècle era, when Symbolism flourished in German art, Klinger—often printed in collaboration with Wilhelm Felsing—delved into dreamlike visions blending eroticism and spirituality. This plate, featuring angels, male and female nudes, evokes a transcendent realm where desire intertwines with ethereal beauty, reflecting the period's fascination with the subconscious and mythological motifs. Rendered in etching and engraving, this third-edition impression represents state eight of ten, showcasing Klinger's meticulous printmaking process. Etching allows for fluid, expressive lines, while engraving adds precise, tonal depth, creating intricate textures and luminous effects on the large plate (17 13/16 × 13 11/16 in.). Such multi-state refinements highlight the artist's pursuit of perfection, making each version a unique artifact in the evolution of the image. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Dr. F. H. Hirschland, 1952), this work exemplifies Klinger's influence on modern printmaking and Symbolist art. Its bold nudity and celestial figures invite visitors to ponder love's dual nature—sensual yet sublime—bridging 19th-century Romanticism with emerging modernist sensibilities.

About the Artist

Wilhelm Felsing|Max Klinger (German| ) · 1857 | –1920 |

German, Leipzig 1857–1920 Großjena|