Gebirgslandschaft mit Wasserfall 

Franz Kobell rendered this mountain landscape with waterfall in pen and brown ink sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The drawing, primarily monochromatic, contrasts areas of meticulous detail with open, less defined spaces, creating a dynamic visual field. Consider how the composition is structured. The waterfall on the right acts as a focal point, drawing the eye through the dense foliage. The use of line in this piece is particularly striking. Short, repetitive strokes build up the textures of the trees and rocks, while longer, more fluid lines define the movement of water and the open sky. Kobell’s technique emphasizes a structural understanding of nature, reducing forms to a series of carefully organized marks. The figures in the lower left introduce a human element, inviting contemplation on our place within nature. This interplay between detail and openness, figure and ground, invites us to see the landscape not just as a scene, but as a carefully constructed visual and philosophical statement.