Landschap met vergezicht naar een vestingstadje op een bergplateau 1569 - 1613

This landscape drawing, made by Cigoli around the turn of the 17th century, is rendered in pen and brown ink, with brown wash, on laid paper. Cigoli's application of line and wash is highly skilled, creating a scene that is both detailed and atmospheric. The ink lines define the forms of the trees, rocks, and buildings, while the brown wash adds depth and shadow, conveying the effect of light and distance. These materials—pen, ink, paper—were readily available at the time, but to use them with such finesse required years of dedicated practice. It's also worth considering the social context of this work. Landscape drawings like this one were not just exercises in skill. They were also ways of understanding and representing the world, reflecting a growing interest in the natural environment. Cigoli’s landscape captures not just a scene, but a moment in the history of seeing.