#18420 Max Klinger (1857-1920)

The drawing presents a fantastical scene rendered in a delicate, linear style. At its center, two figures engage in a passionate embrace while mounted upon what appears to be a hybrid creature – a horse with distinctly aquatic features, including a dolphin-like tail and prominent dorsal fin. The male figure leans in for a kiss, his posture suggesting both tenderness and urgency. The female figure responds with an equally fervent expression, her hair flowing freely behind her.
Above them, a swirling cloud formation dominates the upper portion of the composition, adding to the dreamlike quality of the scene. Scattered bubbles populate the space around the figures, reinforcing the impression of an underwater or aerial environment – or perhaps a combination of both.
Below, resting on what seems to be a rocky outcrop, is a large snail with prominent antennae. Its presence introduces an element of whimsy and potentially symbolic weight. Snails are often associated with slowness, persistence, and transformation, which could subtly comment on the nature of love or the passage of time within this fantastical narrative.
The artist’s use of line work creates a sense of movement and fluidity throughout the drawing. The figures appear to be suspended in mid-air, defying gravity while simultaneously bound together by their affection. The overall effect is one of ethereal beauty and romantic longing, tinged with an undercurrent of surrealism. Its possible that the artist intended to depict a moment outside of conventional reality – a realm where human emotion transcends physical limitations and merges with the fantastical elements of nature.