Sheet of Studies, Including for Reineke Fuchs; verso: Studies of Soldiers and of a Battle in a Wood

Art Historical Context

This double-sided sheet of studies by Wilhelm von Kaulbach a prominent German painter and illustrator of the Romantic era, captures the artist's preparatory process in the mid-19th century. On the recto, sketches relate to his ambitious illustrations for Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's *Reineke* (Reynard the Fox), satirical medieval fable. Kaulbach's intricate pen-and-brown-ink lines depict dynamic figures, horses, and expressive faces, showcasing his mastery of narrative detail and dramatic composition—hallmarks of his history-painting style influenced by the Nazarene movement's emphasis on clarity and moral storytelling. The verso reveals a contrasting scene: soldiers charging through a wooded battle, with fluid studies of mounted warriors and foliage. This juxtaposition highlights Kaulbach's versatility, blending whimsical literary fantasy with the chaos of military conflict, possibly preparatory for his large-scale frescoes or book projects. Pen and brown ink allowed for economical yet expressive mark-making, enabling rapid ideation on a modest 13¼ × 8⅞-inch sheet. As a rare surviving study (acquired via the Harry G. Sperling Fund in 2011), it offers museum visitors a glimpse into 19th-century artistic workflow, bridging literature, history, and the Romantic imagination at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department.