Group of trees 

Editor: Here we have a pencil drawing on paper entitled "Group of Trees," currently held at the Städel Museum. The artist is listed as Peter Becker, though we don’t have an exact date. I find it rather subtle; the tonal range is very delicate, creating a hazy, almost dreamlike effect. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to how Becker represents nature, not as a romantic backdrop, but almost as a living entity with its own power. Think about the period in which this artist may have worked. Industrialization was advancing rapidly, separating people from the natural world. Becker’s close study of trees, emphasizing their density and interconnectedness, can be read as a quiet act of resistance, a reclamation of the value of the non-human. What feeling do you get from this point of view? Editor: I can see that. There's a stillness to it, but also a sense of teeming life hidden within the details. Like, he’s capturing a specific, intimate experience with nature as resistance rather than detachment? Curator: Precisely. Consider the materials too. Pencil on paper— humble, accessible. It suggests that this kind of engagement with nature, this kind of quiet resistance, is available to everyone. It's not about grand pronouncements but everyday observations and intimate connections. This links back to the power dynamics prevalent during the industrial revolution where wealth determined opportunity. Editor: It's like Becker is offering a counter-narrative to the dominant story of progress at all costs. Curator: Exactly. And this drawing reminds us that these counter-narratives, these quiet acts of resistance, are essential for creating a more just and sustainable world. Editor: That’s something I didn’t pick up on at first glance. I learned a lot. Thanks! Curator: Me too! It is important to remember that there is always hope.