Hilly Landscape with Cows and Shepherds in Foreground n.d.

Carlo Antonio Tavella made this drawing, Hilly Landscape with Cows and Shepherds in Foreground, using pen and brown ink on laid paper. What interests me most about this piece is the way that the humble materials of paper, pen, and ink, can evoke something of the pastoral life. Tavella skillfully uses line work to create depth and texture, a kind of shorthand to depict the scene. Look closely at the weight of the lines – thick and bold in some areas, thin and delicate in others, they delineate the forms of the hills, trees, animals, and figures. You can almost feel the warmth of the sun on the grazing cows. The laid paper gives the drawing a tactile quality, hinting at the physical process of creation. In its own way, this drawing embodies the culture of 18th-century Europe, where carefully composed landscapes held a deep cultural significance. By appreciating the materials and processes behind this artwork, we gain insight into the world that Tavella sought to capture.