The city of Trento 1495

Albrecht Durer made this watercolor painting, "The City of Trento," to capture its landscape. Durer's choice of watercolor, a medium prized for its transparency and fluidity, greatly influences the appearance of this vista. The pigment particles suspended in water allow him to evoke the soft, diffused light and atmospheric perspective, creating a sense of depth. The paper becomes a crucial element, its surface texture subtly interacting with the washes of color. We can see the application of thin washes, layering translucent colors to build form and define the landscape. Watercolor was a readily portable medium, which allowed Durer to travel and paint landscapes directly from observation, instead of relying on studio sketches. The use of watercolor in a work like this one expands the boundaries of traditional art history, while elevating the status of craft. This close observation suggests Durer's profound engagement with the world around him, and the potential for even the most ‘humble’ of materials to convey artistic vision.