The Game of Chess

Josef Danhauser

The lady has won. Leaning casually against an armchair she peruses the chessboard. Incredulous, the seated older gentleman stares at the game. His king is mate—checkmate! It all takes place in an upper-middle-class salon, where women set the tone and determined the guest list. A pair of statues behind the lady adds further insight into the scene. It shows Hercules and Omphale: Omphale with a club and lion’s skin, Hercules—the hero of Greek mythology—with a distaff and wearing women’s clothes. The roles have been reversed, albeit only temporarily: Hercules will take back his lion’s skin and club, and the older gentleman will give his all to defeat the lady in a rematch.

1839

Oil on canvas

135.0 x 175.0cm

Lg 1108

Image © Belvedere, Vienna, 2024