View from Lössnitz of the Valley with Dresden in the Distance; verso: Two Persepective Studies of a Room c. 19th century

Editor: This is Adrian Ludwig Richter's "View from Lössnitz of the Valley with Dresden in the Distance" from the 19th century, a graphite drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very immediate and open, almost like a preparatory sketch. What strikes you first about the composition? Curator: The drawing's strength lies in its spatial organization. Notice how Richter uses linear perspective, especially in the rooftops and receding landscape, to create depth. The varying line weights also suggest a hierarchy, guiding the eye. Editor: So, the lines themselves are almost doing the work of color and shading? Curator: Precisely. Consider the density of the graphite marks in the foreground versus the sparse rendering of Dresden in the distance. This contrast establishes a clear foreground-background relationship, emphasizing the depth of field. Editor: That makes sense. I hadn't really considered how much the line work dictates the depth. Thanks for pointing that out!