Felsige Uferböschung mit zwei ruhenden Wanderern 

Franz Kobell crafted this etching, "Rocky Bank with Two Resting Hikers," using fine lines to render a detailed landscape. At first glance, the composition might seem straightforward, yet the artist employs a subtle interplay of light and shadow to disrupt conventional landscape perspectives. Kobell's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates depth, while the stark contrast between the rocky foreground and the softer background evokes a sense of both intimacy and vastness. The two hikers are almost obscured by the landscape, emphasizing nature's dominance. Here, lines carve out not just forms but also a commentary on the sublime. Through a semiotic lens, the detailed rendering of nature can be seen as a signifier of the Romantic era's fascination with untamed landscapes. However, the very act of framing this wildness within the confines of a print introduces an element of control, questioning our relationship with the natural world. Ultimately, Kobell challenges us to consider how we perceive and categorize the landscape, inviting a constant re-evaluation of our place within it.