Baumreiche Landschaft, im Vordergrund ein Weg, der über eine Brücke führt 

Gottlieb Welté made this landscape with watercolor and ink sometime in the late 18th century. The seeming ease of its creation is deceptive, though; watercolor may seem simple, but it is technically demanding. The thin washes of pigment on paper allow for both precision and translucency, effects Welté exploits beautifully. Notice the delicate rendering of the foliage, and the subtle gradations in the sky. Welté also draws with a light touch, capturing the scene's rustic charm. The very choice of watercolor as a medium speaks to a certain sensibility. It was favored for its portability, and by amateurs, like those who took up needlework or musical instruments as genteel pastimes. Yet Welté was no dilettante; he brought serious skill to his work. By attending to the materials and processes of his art, we appreciate his expertise all the more. It challenges any hierarchy separating craft from so-called fine art.