Foliage and bushes 

Otto Scholderer created this graphite drawing, "Foliage and Bushes," now held in the Städel Museum. The composition initially presents as a cascade of lines, a seemingly disordered thicket of foliage. However, the artist's careful articulation reveals a structured organization. Notice how the vertical strokes on the left create a sense of enclosure, framing the more loosely rendered vegetation to the right. Scholderer's mark-making varies, with some areas densely packed and others sparse, suggesting depth and light filtering through leaves. This contrast not only creates visual interest, but also reflects a broader artistic dialogue of the period, moving away from rigid representation toward a more subjective and sensory experience of nature. This work destabilizes traditional landscape depictions. The emphasis on form and line over detail invites us to consider the fundamental elements of representation. It moves beyond a mere imitation of nature, engaging with perception and the very act of seeing itself. Scholderer challenges us to see the underlying structures that inform our understanding of the natural world.