Landscape with oxes 

Otto Scholderer made this sketch, Landscape with Oxes, at an unknown date, and it's now held in the Städel Museum. Here, the artist presents a composition defined by the raw simplicity of line drawing, a fundamental element in art. The monochromatic palette emphasizes form and structure over colour, inviting us to focus on the lines as they delineate shapes and spaces. Notice how the artist uses varied line weights to suggest depth and volume; thicker lines ground the oxen, anchoring them in our visual space, while lighter lines sketch the surrounding landscape, creating a sense of ethereal distance. This contrast in line quality not only directs our gaze but also reflects Scholderer's engagement with the visual language of form. The strategic deployment of these lines challenges our perception of space, questioning fixed perspective and inviting us to construct our own understanding of the landscape, reminding us that art is not about mirroring reality but about interpreting it.