Weg zwischen Kornfeld und Sträuchern mit Katen im Hintergrund c. 1875 - 1880

Wilhelm Busch made this watercolor, Weg zwischen Kornfeld und Sträuchern mit Katen im Hintergrund, using paper, pigment, and a brush. Watercolors are interesting because their delicate appearance belies their stability: they can last for centuries. Busch had to work rapidly with a brush to execute this piece, as the pigment dries quickly. The landscape is very open, and the paint strokes are just as broad. The loose brushstrokes and thin washes capture a sense of immediacy. It’s tempting to see watercolor, a portable, fast medium, as distinct from slow, laboured oil painting. But consider that scenes like this only came into view with the rise of industrialization. Suddenly, artists could travel out of the city more easily, and painting ‘en plein air’ became fashionable. And of course, the watercolors themselves were manufactured goods. Busch’s light touch here isn't just a mark of personal style; it reflects a whole set of new social and economic conditions.