An der Floßbrücke bei Weimar c. 1775 - 1778

Georg Melchior Kraus made this watercolour and pen drawing of a raft bridge near Weimar. Kraus was the director of the Weimar Princely Free Drawing School. He made this picture for the instruction of his students. It depicts an idealized landscape, a harmonious image of nature. But we must remember that the late 18th century was also a time of social and political change in Germany. The Enlightenment, with its emphasis on reason and individual rights, was challenging the old order. Weimar, under the rule of Duke Carl August, became a center of intellectual and artistic life. Kraus's landscape, with its emphasis on harmony and order, might be seen as a reflection of the values of the Weimar court. To understand more, scholars can study historical documents, letters, and other images of Weimar at this time. Ultimately, this helps reveal the social and institutional contexts that gave rise to this artwork.