Berglandschap met een meer en een kasteel 1590 - 1644

This landscape drawing was created by Agostino Tassi around the early 17th century, using pen and brown ink with brown wash on paper. The limited tonal range and the fineness of the lines suggest the qualities of light and distance in this vista, as our eye travels toward the mountains in the background. The drawing captures the inherent qualities of the ink, allowing it to bleed slightly into the paper to create an atmospheric perspective. The technique of 'wash' is interesting here: by diluting the ink, Tassi was able to work with it almost like a watercolor paint. Tassi was a skilled draftsman, and the image displays a traditional artistic skill. In his workshop, drawings like these would have been produced in large numbers, either for sale to collectors or as preparatory studies for larger paintings. Seen this way, this seemingly tranquil scene speaks volumes about the art market and workshop practices of the period. Ultimately, understanding the materials and process deepens our appreciation of the final image.