Group of trees 

Franz Kobell made this landscape, Group of Trees, sometime around the late 1700s or early 1800s, using pen and brown ink on laid paper. Laid paper has a unique texture, created by the wires of the mold used in its production. This texture is visible in the drawing as subtle lines running across the surface. The artist's choice of materials emphasizes the direct, unmediated connection between hand and surface. Pen and ink allowed him to capture the scene with spontaneity. The brown ink creates a warm tone, evoking a sense of light and atmosphere. The lines vary in thickness, which brings depth and dimension to the composition. Kobell uses hatching and cross-hatching techniques to build up the forms of the trees and foliage. The simplicity of the tools and the artist's skill are central to the image's aesthetic effect. Ultimately, this drawing shows how even simple materials, combined with skilled technique, can produce a rich artistic expression. By attending to the material qualities of the artwork, we gain a deeper appreciation of the artist's vision and the historical context in which it was created.