Der Küchteich und die Bibliothek in Weimar c. 1801

Georg Melchior Kraus made this watercolor painting of the kitchen pond and library in Weimar. Watercolors like this were popular among the leisured classes of the 18th century. The act of painting was seen as a genteel pastime, like embroidery or playing the harpsichord. But don’t let the tranquil scene fool you. The fashion for landscape watercolors like this was part of a wider social trend, where the wealthy sought connection with nature, while also showing off their cultivated taste and the splendor of their country estates. Kraus used delicate brushstrokes to capture the reflections in the pond, and the foliage of the trees. These techniques belong to a long history of watercolor painting, which was closely associated with the rise of tourism, as people traveled around Europe recording the sights. By examining the materials and processes of this artwork, we can understand the cultural values it embodies, challenging the divide between fine art and the everyday world.