Edelkastanien bei Schönberg im Taunus 1873

Louis Eysen created this study of chestnut trees near Schönberg in the Taunus, using graphite on paper. The initial impression is one of structured wilderness, where individual trees are discernible, yet massed into a unified grove. Eysen masterfully uses line and tone to define form. Notice how the trees are not merely represented, but constructed through a careful accumulation of strokes, each contributing to a sense of volume and texture. This attention to the materiality of the trees—the rough bark, the dense foliage—invites a tactile response. The composition is organized around a central tree that anchors the scene, around which other elements are distributed. This arrangement is not arbitrary; it reflects a structured approach to capturing nature. While seemingly representational, Eysen's work explores the intrinsic qualities of the landscape. The drawing captures a moment in time. Ultimately, this work prompts us to consider how the formal qualities of a drawing can serve not only as a window onto the world, but as a site for the exploration of structure, form, and the interplay between the artist, medium, and subject.