Der Moses des Michelangelo

The narrator presents himself as a modest, non‑expert observer who feels drawn to the inner substance of great artworks rather than their technical polish. He explains how sculptures and poetry seize his imagination, yet often leave him baffled, unable to name the forces that move him. This uneasy mix of admiration and puzzlement becomes the catalyst for his inquiry.

Turning to the tools of psychoanalysis, he wonders whether the hidden emotional currents that drove an artist’s hand can be uncovered through careful interpretation. He compares the endless debate surrounding Shakespeare’s Hamlet with the mystifying power of Michelangelo’s marble Moses, suggesting that only a deep, analytical reading might reveal the creator’s true intent. The essay therefore treats each masterpiece as a puzzle whose solution could illuminate why we are so profoundly affected.

In the opening sections, he sketches his method: first discerning the depicted story, then probing the psychological motives behind its creation. While acknowledging the limits of rational analysis, he remains hopeful that such a probe will not diminish the awe the works inspire, but will instead deepen the listener’s connection to them.