Landschaft mit Wasserfall, rechts auf dem Berg eine Ruine 

Franz Kobell created this landscape with waterfall and ruins using pen and brown ink, during a time when Europe was undergoing significant political and social upheaval. This drawing captures the 18th-century fascination with nature, but it also hints at the era's political complexities through the ruin. Ruins were often seen as symbols of past glories but also of the transience of power, a theme quite relevant as old regimes were being questioned. Kobell’s choice to highlight the ruin draws on romantic themes, and also touches upon ideas of nationhood and belonging which were then emerging. Notice the contrasting elements: the wildness of the waterfall against the structural remains. Does this juxtaposition invite us to reflect on the tension between nature's enduring force and human’s fleeting control? How might this resonate with contemporary discussions about environmentalism and cultural preservation?