Rocks near Bozen (_) 

Friedrich Metz created this pencil drawing, 'Rocks near Bozen', in 1919. It depicts a rugged landscape, a motif that had deep roots in German Romanticism. The image presents a stark view of nature, but it's essential to consider the cultural and historical moment in which it was made. Germany, having just been defeated in World War One, was a society struggling to rebuild its national identity. Landscapes became a way to imagine a pure, unspoiled, and enduring German spirit, rooted in the land itself. However, this idea of an "organic" national identity can be exclusionary, defining who belongs and who does not. Art historians use period documents like political pamphlets, exhibition reviews, and artists' letters, to unpack how images like this one were used and understood in their time. We can examine how institutions like museums and art academies helped shape artistic tastes and promoted particular ideas about national identity. By considering these factors, we can better understand the social and political context in which this drawing was created and its potential implications.