Group of trees 

Franz Kobell made this pen and brown ink drawing of a group of trees some time in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. Drawings like this were often made for their own sake, as a pastime or a way of studying nature. In the German-speaking lands at this time, the rising middle classes were beginning to take an interest in landscape, especially as something ‘picturesque’ that they could visit and admire. With its winding path and varied trees, this drawing fits the bill. It presents a tamed version of nature that is safe and pleasing to the eye. Kobell was employed as a court painter in Munich, and we can see the influence of that conservative institution here. This drawing doesn’t challenge any social norms; instead, it quietly celebrates the beauty of the natural world for a privileged audience. The study of such drawings relies on understanding the history of art institutions, the changing role of landscape, and the taste of its patrons. Such knowledge can be gained by consulting letters, diaries, and other documents from the period.