About the Work
Sensual, tantalising and sweet: the scent of roses. Their open pink blossoms stretch towards the nose of the clergyman, who dreamily inhales their fragrance. Pink is also the colour of the dress worn by the girl in the arbour, who imagines herself unobserved in her sweetheart’s arms. Only on closer inspection do we realise that the rose lover is in fact a secret witness to the scene. What at first glance looks like a romantic moment of the pious enjoyment of nature abruptly dissolves into a depiction of human desires which must remain unsatisfied: sniffing is allowed, but not touching.
About the Acquisition
As legal counsel for the Farbwerke Hoechst, Privy Councillor Adolf Haeuser made a fortune. In keeping with their will, after the death of Adolf Haeuser in 1938 and his wife, Luisa, in 1953, their property was divided up among several foundations whose establishment was likewise stipulated. One was the Adolf und Luisa Haeuser-Stiftung für Kunst- und Kulturpflege. Since that time, this foundation has acquired several paintings which are on view at the Städel in the form of loans. The museum also received paintings from the couple’s private estate.
