Gewässer mit baumbestandenem Ufer, im Vordergrund zwei Angler 

Franz Kobell made this landscape drawing with pen and brown ink sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts a serene waterside scene, complete with trees, reflections, and a pair of anglers in the foreground. What’s most interesting here is how Kobell uses the humble materials of paper, pen, and ink to achieve such depth and texture. The ink lines vary in thickness and density, creating a sense of light and shadow that models the forms of the trees and the ripples on the water's surface. Look closely, and you'll see how he uses hatching and cross-hatching techniques to build up darker areas. Drawing was a crucial skill for artists during this period, serving as both a means of study and a medium for finished works. Kobell's drawing exemplifies the artist's command over line and tone, transforming a simple scene into a nuanced and evocative composition. And it reminds us that even the simplest of materials, in skilled hands, can yield great beauty and complexity.