The Salzach Valley with a View of the Watzmann Massif in the Background 1590 - 1605

Frederik van Valkenborch made this drawing of The Salzach Valley using pen, brown ink, and blue wash. Note the artist's interest in the texture of the landscape, from the densely forested hills to the craggy face of the Watzmann Massif. The drawing is on paper, a relatively inexpensive and easily portable material. The use of pen and ink allowed van Valkenborch to create precise lines and details, while the blue wash adds depth and atmosphere to the scene. But note how the application of the ink is almost diagrammatic; the scene is built up from thin parallel lines. This process is not so different from the way a cartographer might record a landscape, and indeed the artist includes tiny figures, perhaps travelers or merchants, in the lower right corner, which indicates that this is not just a pretty picture. In its own way, this seemingly picturesque landscape is tied to wider social issues of trade and commerce. By attending to the material, making, and context of this drawing, we gain a fuller understanding of its meaning and significance, and challenge the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.