Landschaft mit einem Fluß, an dessen von Bäumen bestandenem Ufer rechts ein Angler steht 

Carl Sebastian von Bemmel made this delicate landscape with watercolor on paper sometime in the late 18th century. Watercolors were often seen as a preparatory medium, something to be used for sketches before committing to a more serious painting in oils. But look closer, and you’ll see that the artist has lavished attention on the details of the scene. Watercolor allows for a uniquely subtle rendering of light, particularly in the sky. The artist would have built up the image with very fine, thin layers of pigment, a painstaking process. The fine lines of the trees and the angler’s figure are indicative of skill and careful observation. In its own time, this work would have been regarded as a charming diversion, a testament to the artist's technical skill, rather than a profound statement. Today, we can see the true value of the watercolor, and appreciate the labor and skill involved. It challenges us to expand our definition of great art.