Kohlezeichnung and Water-tempera
Vogt 17/13. Monogrammed lower right. On firm wove paper. 53 x 43,4 cm (20,8 x 17 in), the full sheet

Accompanied by a photo expertise by Prof. Dr. Paul Vogt, Essen, dated 31 October 1997.

When Christian Rohlfs works on mythological topics, he surely does it his very own unconventional way. Leda, here of a burly figure, is rather amazed than amused, and is looking at what is expecting her in bewilderment. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation, particularly as Rohlfs depicts what happens before the actual events take place. However, Rohlfs stays on his path, even beyond the narrative element. In a wise limitation to just two color components, he takes away everything seductive and sensual from the motif. Blue becomes the predominant color and suggests a sort of neutrality from which the scene benefits as it is taken beyond frivolous realms. [KD].