Italienische Landschaft mit Ölbäumen 

Ludwig Metz captured this Italian landscape with oil trees in a drawing at the Städel Museum. The composition unfolds through delicate lines and a subtle interplay of light and shadow, inviting us into a serene yet structured space. The drawing emphasizes horizontal expanse, carefully balancing the placement of trees and distant hills. Notice how Metz uses the texture of the paper to give depth to the scene. Linear precision defines the structure of each element, from the foliage to the undulating terrain. The subdued palette enhances the contemplative mood, evoking a sense of harmony and order. Metz's rendering destabilizes a conventional picturesque romanticism. Instead, his emphasis on structure reflects an intellectual and emotional engagement with landscape art.