Angelo Jank (1868–1940)
Houses along the River Tauber near Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Signed, dated and inscribed 'Jank / Rothenburg [18]99'
Black, red, and white chalk on paper
47.5 x 38.9 cm
Framed

Condition:
In very good condition

Additional Information:
Angelo Jank, the son of painter and set designer Christian Jank (1833–1888), studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich from 1891 to 1896. Shortly after graduating, he joined the Münchener Secession, a progressive movement that promoted modernism and innovation in the arts.

From 1896 onwards, Jank contributed illustrations to Die Jugend, a leading journal of the time and a vital platform for the German Art Nouveau (Jugendstil). In addition to his illustration work, he taught at the Women’s Academy of the Munich Artists' Association from 1899 to 1907, and in 1922 he was appointed professor of animal painting at the Munich Academy.

Although Jank later became known primarily for his equestrian scenes, his early work reveals a much broader range of subject matter. The drawing Houses along the River Tauber near Rothenburg, executed in 1899, belongs to this formative period and highlights his exceptional skill as a draughtsman and landscape artist.

Rendered from a bird’s-eye perspective, the composition presents an idyllic view of riverside houses just beyond the city walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The scene is dynamic and fluid, with undulating lines subtly and expressively depicting rooftops, trees, and the meandering river.

Jank’s masterful use of brown and black chalk, enhanced by white highlights on the plastered façades, and even on a cluster of doves resting on a rooftop, creates a vivid sense of depth and texture. This technical finesse is matched by a warm, inviting atmosphere that underscores the harmony between human habitation and nature.

Created shortly after completing his academic training, this drawing reflects the influence of Romantic landscape traditions combined with a preference for realism. At the same time, it demonstrates Jank’s emerging artistic voicemarked by a refined sensitivity to both atmosphere and detail.