Street in a village 

Peter Becker made this watercolor painting of a village street during the 19th century. The artist employs a very light and subtle technique, layering diluted washes of color to build up the scene. You can see a delicate pencil underdrawing showing through in areas, revealing the structure and detail of the buildings. The choice of watercolor lends itself to a gentle, almost dreamlike quality. Becker's decision to paint en plein air – that is, outside and on location - was part of a broader artistic movement that emphasized direct engagement with the world. This approach elevated the status of landscape painting, once considered a lesser genre. By focusing on the everyday life of a village, Becker suggests an appreciation for the unpretentious beauty of rural existence. Paintings like this encourage us to look closely at the world around us and value the labor and materials involved in capturing it on paper. They also remind us that art can be found in the most ordinary of places.