Teilansicht von Rothenburg ob der Tauber 

This is a partial view of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, made by Theodor Alt with watercolor on paper. The effect here is one of gentle atmospheric dissolution, achieved through thin washes of pigment. The process of watercolor painting itself is one of layering, a buildup of transparency to create depth. Note how the artist allows the white of the paper to show through. This technique is in keeping with the picturesque aesthetic, popular at the time, which celebrated the beauty of decay and the romance of historical sites. The choice of watercolor, as opposed to oil paint, speaks to a specific set of values. Oil was still considered the primary medium for serious art, while watercolor was often associated with amateurism, or with preparatory sketches. However, artists like Alt embraced watercolor for its own unique qualities, challenging the traditional hierarchy of artistic materials. It’s important to consider these choices, and their historical context, when we think about the meaning of a work of art.