Via Mala, oben die steinerne Brücke 

Johann Wilhelm Schirmer rendered "Via Mala, oben die steinerne Brücke" in graphite, presenting us with a landscape that is both imposing and delicately wrought. The composition emphasizes a dramatic gorge, bisected by a stone bridge. Schirmer's use of line is particularly striking. He employs a dense network of fine strokes to describe the craggy textures of the rocks and the verdant density of the trees, creating a sense of depth and volume. The bridge, rendered with more precise lines, offers a stark contrast, suggesting human intervention amidst the sublime power of nature. The drawing, while representational, flirts with abstraction through its emphasis on form and texture. The interplay between light and shadow, achieved through varying densities of graphite, further enriches the visual experience, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between nature's grandeur and humanity's attempt to traverse it.