Treetops 

Editor: This is "Treetops", a pencil drawing on paper by Peter Becker, housed right here at the Städel Museum. The drawing is spare, almost minimalist, focusing on the bare essence of the trees. I’m struck by the artist’s commitment to line; it's very effective. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see an exercise in form. Notice how the artist uses line not to replicate the appearance of trees, but to construct them as objects within a defined space. The composition explores the relationship between the skeletal structure and mass, light and shadow. Editor: So it's less about depicting actual trees and more about exploring artistic fundamentals? Curator: Precisely. Consider the contrast between the crisp, defined lines of the main trees and the more scribbled, less distinct trees in the background. It serves not to represent depth realistically, but to emphasize varying degrees of presence and absence on a flat plane. Editor: I see, the sketchier lines almost dematerialize. So, you are suggesting that rather than viewing the drawing as representational, we can analyze how line weight and form come together? Curator: Yes. Line quality, contrast, and the use of empty space create rhythm and volume. It's not about mimicking nature, but about how the elements of drawing can constitute form and suggest depth through purely formal relationships. Editor: I hadn't considered how much the varying line work influences the way one engages with depth of the image. That's insightful. Curator: Observing how artists use their medium, not merely to depict something, but to create it, can profoundly affect your understanding. Editor: Thank you, that provides a unique way to look at how art creates form through varied techniques, going beyond just the immediate impression.