Landscape with Saint George and the Dragon and the Monte Soratte c. 1816

Joseph Anton Koch made this drawing of Saint George and the Dragon using pen and brown ink over graphite. He employs traditional materials and processes in this work. Looking at the drawing, you will notice the emphasis on line, achieved through the controlled application of ink. Koch’s technique allows for a detailed depiction of the landscape, the characters, and the dramatic tension of the scene. The controlled, precise lines create a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of the landscape. Koch was working at a time when printmaking was becoming increasingly important. His skilled draftsmanship, seen here, allowed prints to be reproduced and widely disseminated. Through this approach, he aligned himself with a broader movement of artists who sought to use traditional skills to convey their ideas to a wider audience. This challenges the distinction between the unique artwork and the mechanically reproduced image.