Who painted Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen"?

Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen" was painted by Franz Pforr in 1810.

Where can I see Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen"?

Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen"?

Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen" is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen"?

Museum-quality prints of Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen" are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen"

Franz Pforr , 1810

Scene from Act IV from Goethe's "Gotz von Berlichingen" is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Franz Pforr. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:in later hand, across center verso: Franz Pforr (1788-1812) / see ...(nine lines re: sets of drwgs.) c. 1810-

About this work

Overview

Franz Pforr’s pen drawing, executed around 1810, illustrates a moment from Act IV of Goethe’s drama Gotz von Berlichingen. Rendered in black ink with a gray wash, the work measures roughly a sheet of paper and captures a cramped interior where several figures are gathered around a table and a seated man in a high-backed chair.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a tense confrontation: a central figure grips a long staff while others, some armed, crowd the space, suggesting a moment of conflict or negotiation within the play’s narrative. The inclusion of three small framed portraits on the wall hints at personal histories or allegiances that heighten the dramatic stakes.

Technique & Style

Pforr employs rapid, sketchy line work to convey movement, while cross‑hatching and a subtle gray wash create depth and atmospheric shadow. Light enters through a patterned‑glass window, cutting across the scene and emphasizing the chiaroscuro effect that intensifies the emotional charge of the tableau.

History & Provenance

Created in the early nineteenth century, the drawing reflects the Romantic interest in literary subjects and theatrical scenes. It remains attributed to Pforr, a member of the early German Nazarene circle, and is documented in museum collections as an example of his engagement with Goethe’s dramatic oeuvre.