Group of trees 

Franz Kobell made this drawing of a group of trees with pen and brown ink. Made in Germany, we might consider how the drawing participates in a shift in landscape art that was happening in the late eighteenth century. Before this time, idealized landscapes served as backdrops for historical or mythological scenes. Here, there's no narrative, just trees. But that doesn't mean it is politically neutral. The image is created with precise and accurate strokes and seems to be a study of nature. But who has access to nature at this time? To what extent do idealized and sanitized images of nature serve the interests of wealthy landowners? To understand Kobell's project more fully, we would need to explore the aesthetic and cultural values of his time, and perhaps examine archival records of the institutions with which he was associated. Ultimately, the meaning of this drawing is rooted in the social and institutional conditions of its creation.