View of Munich with Marienkirche on right 1769 - 1822

Franz Kobell’s "View of Munich," now at the Met, was made using watercolor and graphite on paper. The choice of watercolor is crucial here. Unlike oil paint, which allows for layering and a high degree of control, watercolor is all about immediacy. The artist must work quickly, letting the pigment flow across the surface. You can see how Kobell has exploited this quality to create a sense of atmospheric perspective, with the buildings dissolving into the hazy distance. The fluid application mirrors the scene itself, the towers of Munich, a distant building, and dramatic clouds. Watercolors have a long association with amateur art-making, and in this work, Kobell seems less concerned with precision than with capturing a fleeting impression. It is this embrace of the informal and the everyday that makes this unassuming little painting so appealing. It reminds us that art doesn't always have to be about grand statements; sometimes, it's about capturing a moment.