Preparatory Drawing for a Print Series on the History of Germany (Die Geschichte des deutschen Volkes in fünfzehn Bildern)

Art Historical Context

In the mid-19th century, rising German nationalism following the failed revolutions of 1848, artist Carl Heinrich Hermann created this drawing as part of *Die Geschichte deutschen Volkes in fünfzehn Bildern (The History of the People in Fifteen Images), a ambitious print series from 1851–1853. Hermann, a German history painter influenced by Romanticism and the Nazarene movement, sought to chronicle key moments in Germany's past, fostering a sense of shared identity during a time of political fragmentation. Executed in pen and black ink on a scale—20½ × 29⅛ inches—this sheet exemplifies the meticulous line work essential for translating drawings into detailed prints, likely etchings or engravings. The medium's precision allowed Hermann to capture dramatic compositions, heroic figures, and historical symbolism with clarity, bridging fine art and reproductive techniques popular in the era's illustrated books and portfolios. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Harry G. Sperling Fund in 2014, this drawing offers a window into 19th-century visual storytelling. It highlights how artists like Hermann used preparatory studies to visualize national epics, blending education with patriotism for a burgeoning middle-class audience eager for cultural unity.

About the Artist

Carl Heinrich Hermann · 1802–1880

German, Dresden 1802–1880 Berlin