Heroische Landschaft mit Hirten 

Friedrich Metz sketched this "Heroic Landscape with Shepherds," using pen and brown ink over pencil. Metz was working during a time when artists were grappling with how to depict the power and sublimity of nature, often turning to classical themes to ennoble the landscape. Here, the diminutive figures of the shepherds are dwarfed by the dramatic trees and sweeping vistas, emphasizing nature’s overwhelming force. These kinds of landscapes are not simply about pretty views; they reflect deeper cultural values. The “heroic” aspect suggests an idealized vision of rural life. But it also begs the question: heroic for whom? The shepherds, likely poor and working class, are being placed in a scene that elevates their status, yet simultaneously, their actual lived experiences are probably far from this romantic depiction. Consider how the act of sketching itself allows Metz to capture a fleeting moment, an emotional response to the landscape. It's an attempt to find meaning and order in the natural world, one that reflects our own complex relationship to the land and those who inhabit it.