Cottage near Altdorf 1835

This pen and ink drawing, "Cottage near Altdorf," was created by John Ruskin sometime in the 19th century. Ruskin, a leading art critic of the Victorian era, was deeply interested in architecture and the relationship between buildings and their surrounding landscapes. His vision was shaped by a critique of industrialization. Ruskin advocated for a return to the values of craftsmanship, believing that buildings should be in harmony with nature and reflect the local culture. This drawing embodies his romantic idealization of rural life. The cottage, with its intricate woodwork, appears nestled organically into the mountainside. There’s a sense of peace, far away from the social and environmental issues he saw plaguing industrialized cities. Ruskin once said, “There is no wealth but life.” Look closely and consider the lives of those who inhabited this cottage. What did it mean to live so close to the land, in a time of great social change?