Uferlandschaft mit jungen Bäumen 

Franz Kobell created this landscape drawing using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash. Kobell demonstrates considerable skill through his application of the wash, varying the tone to subtly create shadow and depth. The texture of the laid paper gives the wash an uneven quality. It is a relatively quick way of working, particularly well suited to capturing atmospheric effects. Look at the distant hills rendered in the lightest tone, or the reflections in the water. While the scene appears natural, it's anything but. The image is carefully composed and manipulated, as Kobell wasn't so much representing nature as crafting a pictorial scene. The very idea of landscape as a subject was connected with land ownership, and with leisure time to contemplate the aesthetic qualities of nature, themes closely tied to issues of class and privilege. The making of the artwork, although appearing spontaneous, reflects the artist's mastery of both materials and established artistic conventions. By understanding the materials, processes, and historical context, we gain a deeper insight into the artwork's meaning.