Zerklüftete Felswand an einem Gewässer 

Franz Kobell rendered this drawing of a rugged rock face near water with pen and brown ink. The rock looms, almost a character, a silent observer. The Romantic era adored nature's untamed aspect, and here we see it echoed. Think of the "horror vacui"—the fear of emptiness—common in earlier art, where every space is filled. But here, the wild, untouched nature is laid bare, hinting at the sublime power of the natural world. The jagged peaks and dense foliage are visual cues to the divine. We find similar craggy landscapes in the works of Caspar David Friedrich, although Friedrich imbued his landscapes with a sense of spiritual solitude. Consider how this motif of the rugged landscape has evolved. From religious symbols to emblems of national identity, its visual impact remains potent, engaging our emotions and subconscious on a profound level. It is a reminder that what we see is part of a larger, cyclical narrative, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new meanings.