German symbolist school; c. 1890.

German symbolist school; c. 1890.
"Allegory of music."
Charcoal on paper.
It presents faults and restorations.
Measurements: 42 x 32 cm.
At first sight, the composition is dominated by two naked figures leaning towards each other, whose heads almost merge in a gesture of intimate communion. This contact suggests harmony, dialogue or fusion, ideas central to the musical experience. Their bodies, modeled with a soft, blurred stroke, seem to dematerialize, as if the music were absorbing them or transforming them into pure vibration. At the bottom, a small angel or winged putto introduces a clearly allegorical element: it is a figure traditionally associated with artistic inspiration and the divine. Its presence reinforces the idea that music is not only a physical phenomenon, but a spiritual manifestation that connects the human with the transcendent.
Formally, the use of chiaroscuro and charcoal creates an intimate, almost dreamlike atmosphere. There are no superfluous details: everything is subordinated to the expression of an idea.