Limburg an der Lahn 

Peter Becker made this pencil drawing of Limburg an der Lahn sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a German town dominated by its ancient cathedral, the kind of picturesque subject that had become newly popular. The 1800s saw the rise of both nationalism and tourism, and the two often went hand in hand. People became interested in local history and customs, and artists answered the call by creating images of famous landmarks and scenery. This drawing romanticizes the town and implies that it is a place of historical importance. The detailed architectural rendering of the cathedral suggests a connection to the divine and emphasizes the cultural significance of the past. To understand this work better, it's useful to consider the way art was being institutionalized at the time. Museums and art schools were becoming more common, and these institutions played a role in shaping artistic taste and promoting certain kinds of imagery. We can better understand Becker’s drawing and its appeal by understanding the social and institutional context in which it was made and consumed.