Waterfall 

Editor: Here we have Franz Kobell’s drawing, "Waterfall," made using etching, graphite, and ink. The Städel Museum holds this fascinating piece, and the way the artist depicts nature reminds me a lot of a rugged but romantic dreamscape. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What strikes me is the consistent use of line—vertical hatching suggesting both shadow and flow, evoking water's continuous, yet transient, nature. Consider the symbolic weight of water itself: cleansing, renewal, the subconscious. The waterfall, therefore, becomes a visual metaphor for transformation. Do you sense a parallel between the physical descent of the water and perhaps, a spiritual descent or even a moment of reflection? Editor: That's a fantastic connection! It does give the image a deeper, almost introspective feeling. I was so focused on the landscape, I missed the deeper symbolic meaning of the water. Curator: The way figures are subtly included in the landscape also informs the reading. Are they travelers, pilgrims, or simply wanderers? The cultural memory embedded in the journey, the quest, is powerfully evoked. Editor: I hadn’t thought of them as pilgrims before. They are quite small figures, yet their inclusion certainly expands the narrative possibilities. I will remember that! Curator: This piece allows us to consider how landscapes can operate as more than mere depictions of locations. They act as reflections of our inner selves, holding layers of history and aspiration within their forms. Editor: Seeing this through the lens of symbolic meaning and cultural memory definitely makes the artwork richer. I’m left with a whole new appreciation for what it can communicate!