Artwork

A Winter Landscape Within a Jugendstil Border

A Winter Landscape Within a Jugendstil Border, by Hermann Hirzel, ink, 1902
A Winter Landscape Within a Jugendstil Border, by Hermann Hirzel, ink, 1902

A Winter Landscape Within a Jugendstil Border is an ink drawing by Hermann Hirzel. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The artist used pen and black ink on two joined sheets of card, with some corrections made in white.

The title of this work is A Winter Landscape Within a Jugendstil Border.
It was created by Hermann Hirzel in 1902.
The artist used pen and black ink on two joined sheets of card, with some corrections made in white.
I don't know what the image looks like, but I can tell you it's from 1902.
Hermann Hirzel made this in a single year of his life, which is unusual.
You can find more works like this at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Overview

A winter scene rendered in pen and black ink, framed by a decorative Jugendstil border, was executed by Hermann Hirzel in 1902. The drawing occupies two sheets of card that have been joined, creating a single elongated surface for the composition.

Technique & Style

The artist employed fine pen work to delineate the landscape, while white ink was used to amend or highlight certain areas, indicating a process of revision. The surrounding border reflects the organic, flowing motifs characteristic of the Jugendstil movement, integrating the natural subject with contemporary decorative design.

Subject & Meaning

The central image presents a wintry environment, likely emphasizing the quiet and stark qualities of the season. The juxtaposition of the natural scene with an ornamental frame suggests a dialogue between the simplicity of nature and the elaborate aesthetics of early‑20th‑century art nouveau.

History & Provenance

Created in 1902, the drawing is part of Hermann Hirzel’s output from that period. Comparable works by the artist are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, indicating the piece’s relevance within his broader oeuvre.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.