Landscape c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Landscape" by Rodolphe Bresdin. It's undated but held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a very small drawing, almost pocket-sized. What strikes me is the density of the lines. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed, the density is a key element. Notice how Bresdin uses line not just to delineate form, but to create texture and depth. The hatching and cross-hatching build up a complex surface, almost obscuring the landscape itself. Do you see how the composition is structured by the interplay of these lines? Editor: I do. It's less about the literal landscape and more about the artist's mark-making. I guess I hadn't considered that. Curator: Precisely. The formal qualities here supersede any attempt at representational accuracy. It's a fascinating study in the power of line. Editor: I see it now. Thanks! I hadn't looked at it that way before.