Von Bäumen bewachsene Kirchen- oder Burgruine 

Editor: So, this is "Von Bäumen bewachsene Kirchen- oder Burgruine," a drawing in ink and pencil by Franz Kobell, currently held in the Städel Museum. It’s listed as 18th-century, but with no firm date. I'm struck by the contrast between the crisp architectural lines and the wild, almost scribbled foliage. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, that scribbled foliage is doing some heavy lifting! To me, it whispers of the Romantic obsession with nature's power. It’s as if nature is actively reclaiming this man-made structure, blurring the boundaries. What do you think, is it a gentle caress, or a full-on siege? Editor: A siege! The density of the foliage does give that sense. Like nature’s winning a slow, patient war against stone. Curator: Precisely! Kobell isn’t just sketching a ruin, he’s presenting an allegory. It speaks to the ephemeral nature of human endeavors versus the enduring strength of the natural world. And the ruins themselves... they're not just old buildings, they are visual poetry. A testament to time’s relentless march, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Absolutely. So the ‘scribbling’ is actually a carefully considered… statement, then? It makes me reconsider sketch-like works in general. Curator: Ah, yes! Never underestimate the power of what appears effortless. Sometimes, it's the quick, intuitive gesture that captures the essence of an idea, a feeling, most profoundly. I leave you with this image – how would you compare the "scribbles" here to sketches on Instagram today? I will let you dwell on that! Editor: Food for thought! Thanks; I see that contrast—architecture and foliage—very differently now. Curator: My pleasure, it has been enlightening.