Gradiva is a novel by Wilhelm Jensen that tells the story of a young archaeologist named Norbert Hanold who becomes obsessed with a bas-relief of a woman walking. He believes the woman in the relief, whom he names Gradiva, is a real person and becomes determined to find her.
As Hanold searches for Gradiva, he meets a woman named Zoe Bertgang who bears a striking resemblance to the woman in the relief. Hanold becomes convinced that Zoe is Gradiva and follows her to Pompeii, where he experiences a series of hallucinations and dreams that blur the lines between reality and fantasy.
The novel explores themes of love, obsession, and the power of art to shape our perceptions of the world. It delves into the psychology of Hanold as he grapples with his fixation on Gradiva and the impact it has on his relationships and sense of self.