Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich's most famous painting, Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog), hangs in the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

During my visit to the Hamburg Art Gallery in July 2023, this masterpiece was in transit to the Kunstmuseum in Winterthur for the exhibition "The Harbingers of Romance." 

So, Red Baron had to settle for an alienation featuring wind power stations.

The most extensive collection of Caspar David Friedrich's paintings may be housed at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

During my recent visit to our capital, we were particularly interested in one painting by this Romantic artist. Still, I do not want to deprive you of a sculpture near the entrance to the Old National Gallery.

Johann Friedrich Schadow:
Double Statue of the Princesses Luise and Friederike of Prussia

The two sisters are usually on display at the Friedrichswerder Church, but since it is currently being reconstructed, they are temporarily displaced. Read more about Luise's courage.

©Manfred Brückels/Wikipedia

The National Galerie is based on ideas and an initiative of the Prussian King Frederick William IV. As the "romantic king," he was a patron of art, architecture, and history, but was also the ruler who brutally suppressed the revolution in Berlin in March 1848 (Read more in German).

The dedication above the temple-like building, "To German Art," is traced back to Frederick William.

Caspar David Friedrich: Monk by the Sea 1808 -1810

Here is the coveted painting along with a Wikipedia article describing it.

Here is a portrait of Caspar David Friedrich at the age of 44 by Caroline Badua.

Greifswald Harbour 1818-1820

Caspar was born in Greifswald near the Baltic Sea. So many of his paintings address scenes with the sea in the background.

Moonrise over the Sea 1822

Coast Scene by Moonlight 1830

The romantic moon is a central style element in Caspar's work.

Man and Woman Contemplating the Moon 1818-25

Deep in the Forest by Moonlight 1822-1830

Woman at a Window 1822.
Isn't she watching a ship in Greifswald Harbour?

Abbay among Oak Trees 1809-1810

The Watzmann 1824-25

At the beginning of the 19th century, many other painters jumped on the romantic bandwagon.

    

Carl Blechen: Forest Path with a View of a Church, 1835

From the mysterious, dark German forest, they step into the light.

     

Carl Blechen: Castle Sanssouci, 1832

I chose the painting to remind you of the second part of my Berlin 2025 trilogy.

We tried to step out of the Alte Gemäldegalerie at the front, but a window blocked the exit. Nevertheless, the view is breathtaking. Like Fredrick William IV on horseback, you see the Berlin Cathedral, and in the back, the entrance to the Humboldt Forum in the rebuilt City Palace.

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