Weite Landschaft mit Bäumen 1744

Johann Ludwig Aberli made this landscape with trees using pen and gray ink in the 18th century. The work has a delicate, almost ethereal quality, which comes from the monochromatic palette. Aberli created a sense of depth and distance, using lines of varying thickness, from the thinnest strokes for the distant hills, to the thicker ones that define the trees. The artist also used the technique of hatching, where closely spaced parallel lines create areas of shade. Look closely at the lower part of the tree in the midground, and you'll see how Aberli was able to suggest the texture and mass of the foliage. It’s interesting to consider this drawing in the context of 18th-century society. During this time, there was a growing interest in the natural world, with art and science coming together to encourage observation. Aberli has recorded this scene through the skilled handling of pen and ink, combining it with a sensitivity to the scene before him. This emphasizes how the materials and the making, along with the social context, are crucial to fully understanding the artwork.