Landskab med en by (Hamburg?) ned til sø eller havudsigt 1708

Jacob Stockmann created this landscape drawing, possibly of Hamburg, with pen and grey ink on paper during the 18th century. At first glance, the drawing presents a panorama that is muted yet meticulously structured, dominated by a monochromatic palette. The landscape is divided into three horizontal bands: the foreground with trees and rocks, the middle ground with water, and a distant city with mountains in the background. The composition uses a structuralist approach to space, with elements carefully placed to guide the viewer's eye through the scene. The drawing uses linear strokes and graduated tones of grey ink to create a sense of depth and volume, with the lightest tones suggesting distance and atmosphere. Stockmann's drawing challenges traditional perspective. The formal arrangement of elements reflects a structured, semiotic system where each component—the rocks, trees, water, and city—contributes to the overall signification of 'landscape.' The drawing's formal qualities reflect a philosophical engagement with nature as both observed and constructed. The interplay of line and tone invites us to consider how we perceive and interpret the world around us, engaging with broader cultural and philosophical discourses about nature and representation.