Bergachtig landschap 1798

Editor: Here we have "Mountainous Landscape," an engraving created in 1798 by Ludwig Hess. Looking at it, I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the dark, jagged rocks on the right and the softer, lighter trees on the left. The artist really uses line work to create a sense of depth. What catches your eye? Curator: Precisely. Note the density of the engraved lines in the foreground, creating a tactile sense of immediacy. Hess manipulates line not just to describe forms, such as the figures and animals, but also to generate tonal values. Where the lines are dense, tone darkens to describe volume, shape and texture, and it evokes a haptic quality. Editor: Haptic? As in, relating to touch? Curator: Yes, precisely. Notice, for instance, the layering of fine, sharp strokes defining the sheer, ragged mountain face, its texture almost palpable, drawing the eye up. Compare this to the comparatively sparse strokes used to evoke distant space behind. Editor: That makes sense. It's interesting how such a limited medium – simple lines on a page – can create such a dynamic and immersive scene. What would you say is the main focus in this work? Curator: Focusing solely on the formal elements, I argue it’s the spatial relationships crafted through line. Hess masterfully orchestrates a journey for the eye: from foreground density to background diffusion, playing on scale. This builds toward a perspectival understanding but more to the relationship between forms within the depicted space, emphasizing the artwork’s success in building three-dimensional relationships on a two-dimensional surface. Editor: That's a different way to look at landscape art! I usually focus on subject matter and context. Thank you for shifting my perspective. Curator: Indeed. By concentrating on intrinsic qualities, one sees that the impact is due to form and relationship, an ingenious deployment of line.