Burgruine an einem Gewässer, in dem Kühe stehen 

Franz Kobell created this ink and brush drawing, "Burgruine an einem Gewässer, in dem Kühe stehen," to capture a scene dominated by monumental rocks and ruins. The monochromatic palette gives a sense of timelessness, highlighting the formal structure of the composition. The artist uses a limited range of tones to explore depth and texture. The brushstrokes vary from delicate lines defining the distant ruins to more forceful strokes rendering the rugged surfaces of the rocks. These structures occupy the majority of the image. In the foreground, the water is quiet, reflecting the muted sky and the silhouettes of grazing cows, grounding the viewer in a tranquil, pastoral scene. This drawing evokes the sublime, contrasting the impermanence of human structures with the enduring presence of nature. The crumbling ruins can be interpreted as a signifier of time’s relentless passage. This imagery encourages a broader contemplation of human existence within the natural world. The formal qualities of line and tone are not merely descriptive, but deeply implicated in a dialogue about history, decay, and the sublime.