Rock slope by a body of water 

Editor: Here we have Franz Kobell’s ink and pen drawing, "Rock slope by a body of water." The detail achieved with just pen strokes is captivating, and it evokes this contemplative and almost lonely mood, a perfect getaway spot. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, you’ve already tuned into something special. It is simple and serene, inviting us to a personal haven away from… well, away from everything, isn't it? The ink, for me, sings of quick capture, en plein air. Can’t you almost feel the breeze on your face as Kobell, perched somewhere on a rock, scratches away, translating the world through his hand? It almost makes you wonder about his inner world as well... the landscape becomes his mirror, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely! There is something quite intimate in his translation of the landscape through this technique. And I hadn't considered the speed. Were these types of plein air landscape pieces popular then? Curator: They were gaining momentum. Artists were escaping studios for direct engagement. This wasn't about grand historical scenes. It’s nature raw, but filtered through the artist’s own unique lens, their mark making, their own vision. A record of an experience... like keeping a visual diary of a memory. It makes me wonder what song was stuck in his head while making this…! Editor: A visual diary, that is an amazing way of putting it. It makes me think differently about even his choices of what to include. Curator: Precisely! It's a collaboration of what nature is offering, what the artist notices, and, more importantly, what he chooses to share and keep. We only see a selection of this memory. The slope that made the cut. Editor: Thank you. Now, I’ll definitely approach other landscape pieces, wondering what songs their makers had stuck in their heads!