Via Appia in Perugia 11 - 1851

Curator: Look at this delicate rendering from 1851 by Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig, titled "Via Appia in Perugia," currently residing here at the Städel Museum. It's a captivating pencil drawing, but something about its almost ghostly presence strikes me. Editor: Ghostly is a great word. It feels like a memory, faded but stubbornly present. All those steps descending into the city... It almost feels like tumbling into the past. Curator: Ludwig's real skill is framing; he invites us into a specific viewpoint – this architectural drawing provides a view through the arch, offering us a slice of 19th-century Perugia, capturing its cityspace with a tender touch. What I like, is the idea of him positioning us so far back and above the subject; this would certainly influence the dynamic between viewer and subject when exhibited to the general public. Editor: It's clever. The architecture almost traps the gaze. You are subtly guided, aren't you, past one arch, towards the heart of Perugia through another. There's depth beyond depth! And it's all just soft pencil work—etching at its finest. I find that so interesting to look at today, given our propensity for architectural photography, don’t you? Curator: I think that is particularly perceptive, especially with Ludwig's technique. It’s controlled, yes, but there's also a freedom to it. He seems less interested in photographic accuracy and more in conveying the feeling of a place. It's not a snapshot; it's an impression etched in time. Editor: Exactly. And the lines – look how they capture the light! It is almost sculptural, despite being so two-dimensional, this medium defies expectations to create atmosphere and mood. But for me it goes a lot further, offering us a glimpse into how cityspaces such as this impacted travel and transport, from ancient rome onwards, through such iconic routes, as the Via Appia! Curator: Indeed. Thinking about this landscape's presentation is a window into so much more. Editor: Ultimately, it really transcends just being a historical document, or beautiful rendering; but rather it becomes a silent invitation to dream of wandering through the corridors of time. Curator: Perfectly said; perhaps a pilgrimage is in order?