HeraclesChoice2.0011

Joseph Anton Koch (1768-1839), untitled self-portrait depicting the artist as Heracles at the Crossroads, the choice between classical ideal and popular taste, early 1791; ink and watercolor, 18.7 x 23.6 cm, a page (blatt xx) removed from Koch's sketchbook, curated at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart Graphische Sammlung, lost after 1939, preserved in the Foto Museum. Click here for larger image.

Koch adapts in notebook drawing, which he later embellished with watercolor, the narrative attributed to Prodicus of Athens, and ancient philosopher Xenophon. According to Prodicus' story (told in Xen. Mem. 2.1.21-34) Heracles found himself in his youthful adulthood at a cross-roads. Two women appeared to him — Virtue and Vice (Pleasure) are typically presented as allegorical figures — and each tried to entice the potential hero to follow her path. By choosing Virtue's path, the hero willingly engages the hard path through life.

Koch updates the narrative from the hero's encounter with allegorical figures of the two goddesses whose provinces apply to classical Imitatio and popular Compositio (=garrish bad taste), Athena and outlandish street-walker Aphrodite respectively.

In a letter to his former teacher, Koch described the choice facing a starving artist in the reality of the day: "'My name is taste. Whoever prefers me receives bread, favor, and respect, but clearly only among the posh rabble of the world.' so spake the knock-kneed, thousand-visaged Taste."

In another sketch, inv. no. 4168, Koch depicts the artist being summoned toward Rome by the figure of Imitatio hovering in the air. (See Künstlerleben in Rome, plate 2.3) Popular tale in both previous and subsequent generations, as well: Poussin, Benvenuti, Handel, etc.