The Painter's Studio and the Girls

The subplot of Titorelli's studio, the intrusive girls, and the connection between art and the court.

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Arrival at the Studio

The Chaotic Welcome The Girls K. climbs to Titorelli's attic studio, pursued by a group of young girls. They are playful and depraved, and the painter struggles to keep them out. The hunchbacked girl is particularly persistent. The Studio The studio is cramped and hot, with a fixed window. Titorelli is painting a portrait of a judge. K. learns that the painter is a court trustee and that the girls are also connected to the court. The Moorland Landscapes Titorelli shows K. several identical moorland landscapes, which K. buys out of politeness. The paintings symbolize the monotony and hopelessness of the court's world.

The Second Door

The Hidden Passage Exit Through the Court Offices Titorelli shows K. a second door that leads directly into the court offices. K. is shocked to find the court's presence everywhere. He leaves with the paintings, feeling the court's inescapability. The Servant A court servant carries the paintings for K. The servant's gold buttons mark his affiliation. K. is eager to escape the building and return to the bank, but the encounter leaves him unsettled.

Winter afternoon

End of the visit