Franz Kafka not only left a profound mark on literature, but also explored the visual arts through his drawings, which add an additional dimension to his written work. These illustrations, which have been less studied over time, offer a new perspective on his literary universe and allow for a deeper understanding of his inner world. Furthermore, the drawings open the door to a psychological analysis of Kafka, revealing intimate and symbolic aspects of his personality that complement his literary legacy.

To mark the recent publication of the complete collection of these drawings in a special edition by Galaxia Gutenberg, Isabel Hernández, Professor of German Philology at the Complutense University of Madrid, will invite us to explore this lesser-known facet of the author. In her lecture, Hernández will analyze the relationship between Kafka's drawings and texts, offering an interpretation that encompasses both the aesthetic and the psychological. She will delve into how the illustrations reflect recurring themes in Kafka's work, such as alienation, absurdity, and inner struggle, providing new insights for interpreting his work from a more visual and symbolic perspective.

This conference is a unique opportunity to approach the Kafkaesque universe from a different perspective, where image and word intertwine to offer us a more complete vision of the writer's complex inner world.

Illustrations by Miquel Barceló for The Transformation, by Franz Kafka.