Am Wehr c. 1870 - 1890

This is ‘Am Wehr,’ an ink drawing by Hans Thoma. Here, the composition draws you into a tranquil scene dominated by the expansive stillness of water. Thoma uses delicate, closely-knit lines to build texture and depth, evoking a sense of calm and inviting contemplation. The structure of this work presents a semiotic system. The river acts as both a literal and symbolic space, reflecting Thoma’s concern with landscape not just as a visual subject, but as a mirror of internal states. The artist uses line and form to create a scene that flattens perspective and emphasizes surface—a hallmark of late 19th-century aesthetic concerns. Consider how Thoma manipulates the picture plane. The buildings in the distance suggest a world beyond, yet the surface treatment keeps us firmly within the realm of the aesthetic object. The overall effect destabilizes the traditional function of landscape, proposing it as a site for philosophical inquiry rather than mere representation.