Capri 1 - 1876

This is Friedrich Metz's delicate pencil drawing of Capri, made in 1776. At first glance, the muted tones and intricate linework evoke a sense of serene distance. Metz masterfully employs linear perspective, guiding our eye from the foreground's textured foliage to the distant, softly rendered mountains. The composition is structured by a series of receding planes, each meticulously detailed yet subordinate to the overall harmony. Note how the architectural elements, like the buildings, are rendered with the same delicate touch as the natural forms, blurring the distinction between the built environment and the landscape. This integration destabilizes any clear hierarchy between nature and culture. The drawing isn't simply a picturesque view but a meditation on space and representation. Metz’s Capri invites us to reflect on how we perceive and construct our understanding of the world through the language of art.