Rocks with water 

Peter Becker made this watercolour artwork, 'Rocks with water,' which is now held at the Städel Museum. The painting evokes a sense of serene contemplation through its delicate handling of light and form. Observe how Becker structures the composition around a central cluster of rocks and flowing water, guiding the viewer's eye through the landscape. The artist destabilizes traditional landscape painting, presenting a scene not of grandeur but of intimate natural detail. Through his brushstrokes and use of colour, Becker focuses on the materiality of nature. The unfinished elements, such as the faint outlines of trees, invite us to consider the process of art-making itself. The semiotic elements—water as a signifier of change, rocks as symbols of permanence—create a visual language that speaks to the transient yet enduring qualities of the natural world. The painting's formalism challenges our expectations, emphasizing the subjective experience of seeing over objective representation.