Weidende Schafe und Ziegen an einem Wasserfall 

Franz Kobell made this pen and ink drawing of grazing sheep and goats by a waterfall in Germany in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The scene fits within a well-established pictorial tradition of the pastoral landscape. This genre often carries associations with an idealized rural life, far removed from the realities of urban existence. During this period, the rise of industrialization and urbanization prompted a renewed interest in nature and the countryside. Artists like Kobell tapped into a longing for simpler times, even as the social and economic structures of the era were rapidly changing. To fully understand this drawing, we can delve into the visual codes and cultural references that informed its creation. Art historical resources, alongside social and economic histories of the period, will help us to understand the complex relationship between art and society in a time of great change.