Landschap met herderinnen bij water 1750 - 1811

This landscape with shepherdesses by water was made by Carl Friedrich Holtzmann with pen in grey ink. The delicate interplay of line and form invites us to consider the artwork's composition. The artwork presents a pastoral scene, where the arrangement of figures, animals, and landscape elements creates a sense of depth and tranquility. Holtzmann’s precise linework defines the figures of the shepherdesses and the resting cattle, giving them volume and presence on the page. The sparse application of grey ink focuses attention on form and structure, while the blank spaces become active participants in the composition. The way Holtzmann uses line to suggest shadow and light is particularly intriguing. It challenges our perception, as the minimal use of shading transforms the pastoral scene into an interplay of visual signs, inviting viewers to interpret its structure and meaning.