Kahlenbergerdorf 1880 - 1928

Gottfried Lorenz made this etching of Kahlenbergerdorf sometime between 1860 and 1928, using fine lines to describe a wintery scene. I love how the whole composition feels like a sketch, capturing a specific moment in time, and as a painter, I am drawn to its delicate detail. Look at how Lorenz used densely packed hatching to create depth and shadow, especially on the hillside and the church tower. It's like he's building up the image stroke by stroke, letting the process become visible. The subtle variations in line weight give the scene a tactile quality, making you almost feel the crispness of the winter air. And then there’s the bare tree on the left; it's spindly branches create an interesting pattern against the snow. This reminds me of the etchings of Whistler, who similarly embraced a kind of tonalist approach. There’s something magical about how Lorenz turned a simple etching into a window onto a world.