Felslandschaft mit Pyramide 

Franz Kobell created this landscape drawing with pen and brown ink, likely around the late 1700s or early 1800s. The monochrome effect throws the eye into high relief. Kobell masterfully uses line and wash to create a rich illusion of texture, and he obviously had practiced the layering of washes to create depth of shadow. Note how this technique is especially evident in the rocky outcrops on the right of the composition, with trees interspersed to soften the effect. The artist’s hand is present in every deliberate stroke, in contrast to the smooth surfaces and controlled lines of industrial production. This drawing invites us to reconsider traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. The concept of craft emphasizes the value of labor, skill, and connection between the artist and their materials, qualities that are vividly apparent in this work.