Moritz Retzsch (1779–1857), After - Gretchen im Kerker

Moritz Retzsch (1779–1857), attributed – “Gretchen im Kerker”

Notable drawing of the 19th century with an impressive depiction of Gretchen in prison from Goethe’s “Faust.”

The young woman is depicted kneeling and praying in a dark, sacral-tinged prison chamber. Beside her are a cross and a skull on a stone pedestal. Monumental columns, vaults and a small barred window amplify the dramatic and at the same time contemplative effect of the scene.

The drawing is entirely hand-made, with pen and black ink on paper. The fine line work and the carefully modeled light–dark contrasts lend the small work an unusual spatial depth.

Particularly interesting is the historical inscription on the back of the original drawing sheet. There are, among other things, the following indications:

“Friedr. Aug. Moritz Retzsch”
“1779–1857”
“Dresden”
“Mai 1966”

Additionally, separated from it, there is the designation “M. Retzsch” as well as other older handwritten notes and numbers, including “Gretchen,” “195” and “619.”

The back inscriptions provide an interesting historical hint at an earlier engagement with a possible attribution to Moritz Retzsch. A scholarly or catalog raisonné confirmation of the attribution is currently not available.

Retzsch is particularly known for his illustrations to Goethe’s “Faust.” The present, unusually intimate depiction of Gretchen praying alone in the prison is therefore iconographically especially interesting.

An art expert independently identified the depicted scene with the greatest likelihood as “Gretchen im Kerker,” but could not securely assign the drawing to a specific artist based on the available photographs.

Dimensions of the drawing: approx. 20.5 × 15.5 cm
Dimensions with frame: approx. 26.5 × 21 cm

The drawing is housed in a decorative, gilded historic frame.

An interesting collectible for lovers of German Romanticism, of Goethe iconography, and in particular of the works and milieu of Moritz Retzsch.