A haunting etching from Max Klinger's 1881 series, A Glove, depicting a winged figure observing a discarded glove in a dreamlike, sparse setting.

This etching, titled Amor, is the tenth plate from Max Klinger's celebrated cycle, A Glove (Paraphrase on the Finding of a Glove). Published in 1881, the series follows a narrative sequence triggered by the protagonist's discovery of a lost glove at a skating rink. Klinger, a German artist associated with the Symbolist movement, utilised the medium of printmaking to explore psychological states and dreamlike imagery that predate the formal emergence of Surrealism.

In this specific composition, the discarded glove lies abandoned on a flat, barren surface. A winged figure, representing Amor, gazes toward the object with a detached, contemplative expression. Above, a rose branch hangs, providing a stark contrast to the emptiness of the foreground. The inclusion of a small rake in the lower left corner adds to the enigmatic quality of the scene. Klinger's technical precision is evident in the fine lines and the subtle tonal variations achieved through aquatint. The work avoids traditional perspective, creating a sense of isolation and psychological tension. By elevating a mundane, personal object to the status of a fetishised icon, Klinger invites the viewer to interpret the glove as a vessel for desire, memory, and loss. The stark, monochromatic palette focuses attention on the precise rendering of form and the unsettling juxtaposition of elements. This print reflects the artist's interest in the subconscious, a recurring theme in his graphic work, and demonstrates his ability to construct narratives that remain open to subjective interpretation.