This original artwork explores how European architecture gradually changes as the landscape and culture change. Rather than depicting one particular village, the drawing brings together a whole journey through Europe – from the Central European Alps towards the Italian coast.
At the mountain end of the scene, familiar timber-clad Alpine chalets dominate. As the journey moves south, the architecture begins to change, with timber giving way to stone and rendered buildings, some decorated with colourful painted murals. Further towards Italy, local stone and the unmistakable terracotta clay roof tiles become increasingly prominent.
Finally, as the landscape reaches the coast, the buildings become simpler in form but much more colourful. That colour is, of course, somewhat difficult to show in a monochrome drawing – but the shapes, textures and architectural character still tell the story.
The result is deliberately a little fanciful: one enormous European village, where different regions and architectural traditions flow naturally into one another. It is an illustration of how travel through Europe can reveal subtle changes in buildings, materials and styles, all within a relatively short distance.
 
Subject: European village and architectural landscape
Medium: Ink pen and ink wash
Surface: Ampersand archival hardback Claybord
Image size: 59 × 41 cm
Framed: No
Original: Yes
Certificate of Authentication: Yes
Artist: Graham McKenzie-Smith