Vom Sturm bewegter Hochwald 

Peter Becker’s drawing “Vom Sturm bewegter Hochwald” or “High Forest Moved by the Storm” captures a landscape in turmoil. Becker, born in 1828, lived in a time when Europe was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. There is a palpable tension in this drawing, the high forest is caught in the throes of a storm; the trees lean and twist, and the landscape is enveloped in an atmosphere of unrest. Consider how this artwork moves beyond a mere depiction of nature. It mirrors the period's anxiety and the social and political upheavals of the time. The forest, a traditional symbol of the German spirit, is here disrupted, reflecting a society grappling with change. The emotional weight of the drawing comes from the uncertain and turbulent atmosphere Becker renders with such expressive lines. The work compels us to reflect on our relationship with nature and society.