In the Park (from the series A Love)

Art Historical Context

**In the Park**, a captivating print from Max Klinger's renowned series *A Love* (1887–1903), invites visitors into a dreamlike narrative of romance and longing. Klinger, a pioneering German Symbolist artist, this etching and engraving to explore the ethereal bonds of love, blending realism with fantastical elements characteristic of the fin-de-siècle era. Printed by Wilhelm Felsing in its third edition—specifically state five of seven—this work showcases the artist's iterative process, where each state refined details for maximum emotional depth. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it measures an impressive plate size of 17 15/16 × 10 13/16 inches, drawing viewers into intimate scenes of couples amid lush park settings. Klinger's mastery of etching and engraving techniques allowed for intricate line work, capturing subtle textures of foliage, fabric, and human forms with exquisite precision. Symbolism's influence shines through, as the series unfolds a poetic love story infused with psychological nuance, reflecting late 19th-century obsessions with desire, nature, and the subconscious. This print, gifted to the Met in 1952, exemplifies how printmaking democratized complex art, making Klinger's visionary world accessible beyond paintings. Wander through *In the Park* and feel the tender gaze between men and women, evoking universal themes of connection in a serene yet charged atmosphere—a timeless gem from Symbolism's golden age.

About the Artist

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

German, Leipzig 1857–1920 Großjena|