Mittelgebirgslandschaft mit senkrecht abfallenden Felsgruppen c. 1790 - 1794

Georg Melchior Kraus made this landscape drawing with pen and brush in delicate washes. Notice how the vertical rock formations command our attention, echoing the sublime power of nature. The motif of towering rocks has resonated through art history, from the craggy landscapes of Leonardo da Vinci to Caspar David Friedrich's romantic cliffs. It reflects a deep-seated human fascination with the immensity and untamed quality of the natural world. Consider the psychological weight of such formations. Rocks are symbols of permanence and strength, yet in Kraus's rendering, they also hint at vulnerability through the effects of erosion. This duality may subtly mirror our own transient existence against the backdrop of an enduring earth. Such images tap into a collective memory, evoking feelings of awe, solitude, and perhaps a touch of primal fear, connecting us to our ancestors who sought refuge and meaning in similar landscapes. This visual language continues to evolve, finding new expression while still resonating with age-old emotions.