View of Milan 1820 - 1884

Adrian Ludwig Richter's "View of Milan" captures the city in delicate watercolor and graphite. The composition is structured around a series of horizontal layers, from the foreground rooftops to the distant mountains. Notice how Richter employs a subdued palette, dominated by muted grays, blues, and browns, evoking a tranquil, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The architecture, rendered with precise linework, punctuates the skyline, creating a visual rhythm that leads the eye across the scene. What might be missed on first view is how the drawing plays with perspective. Traditional perspective flattens as we approach the horizon line, but Richter has chosen to bring the background forward, destabilizing the depth. This allows Richter to explore pictorial space not as a fixed, representational model but as a flexible, expressive medium. Consider how this choice reflects a broader shift in artistic thinking. A move away from strict representation towards subjective interpretation and Richter invites us to contemplate the city not as a concrete entity but as an idea.