Study of Cliffs 1835

Johann Christian Heerdt made this study of cliffs with graphite and watercolor wash sometime during his lifetime, which spanned much of the 19th century. Heerdt was working within a moment when artists turned to the natural world for inspiration and instruction. We can appreciate this drawing as an example of how the geological features of the natural landscape were being documented and interpreted in the service of scientific understanding. This image creates meaning through a contrast between its attention to specific detail and the broader, muted tones that dominate the work. In Germany at this time, a growing sense of national identity was reflected in artistic and scientific studies of the homeland. Heerdt's work may have been influenced by this growing interest in the natural and cultural heritage of the German states. To fully appreciate this drawing, we might consult geological surveys from the period, as well as institutional records documenting the cultural and artistic trends of 19th-century Germany.