Tree c. 1847

Peter Becker made this drawing of a tree, its date is unknown. His work resides in the Städel Museum. The way Becker renders the tree is interesting. We are accustomed to highly finished academic studies; here, however, the lines are faint, the composition incomplete. It speaks to a changing understanding of the artist's role, particularly within the German art world of the nineteenth century. Becker belonged to a generation questioning the rigid structures of art academies, institutions that dictated artistic taste and training. Artists began to explore personal expression, emphasizing individual perception over established conventions. The sketch-like quality could be seen as a quiet rebellion against the expectation for polished, idealized landscapes, reflecting a shift towards a more subjective and immediate experience of nature. The social history of art encourages us to examine not just the image itself, but the forces that shaped its creation and reception. To fully understand this drawing, one might delve into the archives of the Städel Museum, exploring exhibition records, artists' correspondence, and the critical reception of Becker's work. By doing so, we uncover the nuanced dialogue between the artist, the institution, and the evolving artistic landscape of nineteenth-century Germany.