Forest section 

Johann Wilhelm Schirmer created this drawing, *Forest Section,* with pen and gray ink on paper, and it now resides in the Städel Museum. Immediately, we are drawn into a dense thicket rendered with a delicate hand. The composition is dominated by a cluster of trees, centrally massed, with a lighter grey sky creating contrast, especially at the top of the image. Schirmer's approach here seems rooted in a close observation of nature, yet it transcends mere representation. The lines, meticulously applied, serve not just to depict, but to create a sense of depth and texture. This meticulousness mirrors a broader artistic concern of the period—an attempt to reconcile empirical observation with an underlying formal structure. It uses a network of lines to create a visual language which invites the viewer to enter a dialogue around the concept of nature. Ultimately, it’s the formal interplay between line, tone, and composition that captures our attention, inviting us to consider how these elements create a discourse about our understanding of nature itself.