Gezicht op het Dachsteingebergte 1885

This is the cover for *Das Dachsteingebiet*, a lithographic print made in 1889 by Friedrich Simony. The image presents a close-up view of the Dachstein Mountains, rendered in monochromatic tones. The composition is structured around a central vignette framing the imposing mountain range. Simony skillfully employs chiaroscuro to articulate the ruggedness of the mountains, creating a rich interplay of light and shadow that accentuates their formidable presence. The mountains, centrally located, dominate the visual field; this draws attention to nature and the sublime. The formal structure of the work highlights a tension between the textual elements, which rigidly frame the image, and the freedom of the natural landscape they depict. This contrast may echo contemporary philosophical debates about the relationship between human attempts at classification and the uncontainable vastness of the natural world. Through its structure, the artwork invites contemplation on the boundaries between description and experience.