Caspar David Friedrich(1774-1840)
At the age of 16, Caspar David Friedrich had lessons in Greifswald with the university drawing teacher Quistorp. The early influence remained formative. His teacher pointed out the natural beauty of his home area. Friedrich studied from 1794 to 1798 in Copenhagen at the Royal Academy of Art, among other things. with N. Abildgaard and J. Juel. He then moved to Dresden, which remained his residence throughout his life. The painter and graphic artist Philipp Otto Runge as well as the painters Georg Friedrich Kersting and Johan Christian Dahl from Norway also lived there, with whom Friedrich, together with the two poets Ludwig Tieck and Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), made up an artistic and literary center of Romanticism.
During his time in Dresden he tried oil painting for the first time; previously he only used the sepia technique. In 1799 he exhibited his works at the art academy exhibition. Promoted by Goethe, his pictures first attracted the attention of a larger audience in 1805, including the future Emperor of Russia, Nicholas I, from 1820 onwards. He was enthusiastic about the artist's style of painting and purchased some of his works. He became one of his most important clients. These sales temporarily secured the painter's economic survival. In 1808 he created the landscape painting "The Cross in the Mountains" for the house chapel of Tetschen Castle, which contemporaries were outraged about because of its outrageousness as an altarpiece. This work only benefited the painter's fame, and this also resulted in modest financial success.
Caspar David Friedrich undertook a trip to Rügen and Greifswald. He then hiked through the Giant Mountains. On these ventures he consciously perceived nature and was inspired by it in his work. This is how the title "Morning in the Giant Mountains" came about in 1810/1811. In 1810 he was admitted to the Berlin Academy and six years later to the Dresden Art Academy. In 1818 Caspar David Friedrich married the 25-year-old Caroline Bommer. In 1835 the artist had to stop painting completely due to a stroke. He was then quickly forgotten by his contemporaries. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a new reception of his works began. Frederick was not subject to the Italian art trend and was also not a follower of the ancient masters. In his understanding, art should mediate between people and nature.
Against this background, he approached the natural beauties by processing moods and feelings. His works are therefore not images of nature, but also objectify the incomprehensible. The realistic, emotional depiction of the landscapes is also characterized by a seemingly endless expanse. In addition, his landscape paintings are an allegory of the patriotic mood around the time of the liberation struggles in the German states. The "Lonely Tree", synonymous with Germany, in the 1921 work of the same name was damaged by the French occupation. However, the tree's environment - including the rising daylight - indicates better development. The meaning of his pictures suited the current German public taste, Friedrich's pictures were in demand.
The demand for his works only temporarily improved his financial circumstances. After the wars of liberation, however, the patriotic mood turned into reactionary behavior on the part of those in government. His picture themes therefore later met with rejection. Despite his fame, Caspar David Friedrich, who came from a poor background, never became rich. Even after the demand for his pictures waned, an economically difficult situation quickly arose again, which was further exacerbated by his illness in the last years of his life. The shy artist increasingly blocked himself from his fellow human beings and became isolated. Access to him also became increasingly difficult for his wife and two children.
Although Friedrich's paintings were not granted long-term success during his lifetime, his painting style shaped not only the Romantic era, but also the subsequent art eras of his century. With his sensitive atmospheric images at different times of the year or day, he is considered the most important landscape painter of the Romantic era.
Caspar David Friedrich died on May 7, 1840 in Dresden.
During his time in Dresden he tried oil painting for the first time; previously he only used the sepia technique. In 1799 he exhibited his works at the art academy exhibition. Promoted by Goethe, his pictures first attracted the attention of a larger audience in 1805, including the future Emperor of Russia, Nicholas I, from 1820 onwards. He was enthusiastic about the artist's style of painting and purchased some of his works. He became one of his most important clients. These sales temporarily secured the painter's economic survival. In 1808 he created the landscape painting "The Cross in the Mountains" for the house chapel of Tetschen Castle, which contemporaries were outraged about because of its outrageousness as an altarpiece. This work only benefited the painter's fame, and this also resulted in modest financial success.
Caspar David Friedrich undertook a trip to Rügen and Greifswald. He then hiked through the Giant Mountains. On these ventures he consciously perceived nature and was inspired by it in his work. This is how the title "Morning in the Giant Mountains" came about in 1810/1811. In 1810 he was admitted to the Berlin Academy and six years later to the Dresden Art Academy. In 1818 Caspar David Friedrich married the 25-year-old Caroline Bommer. In 1835 the artist had to stop painting completely due to a stroke. He was then quickly forgotten by his contemporaries. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a new reception of his works began. Frederick was not subject to the Italian art trend and was also not a follower of the ancient masters. In his understanding, art should mediate between people and nature.
Against this background, he approached the natural beauties by processing moods and feelings. His works are therefore not images of nature, but also objectify the incomprehensible. The realistic, emotional depiction of the landscapes is also characterized by a seemingly endless expanse. In addition, his landscape paintings are an allegory of the patriotic mood around the time of the liberation struggles in the German states. The "Lonely Tree", synonymous with Germany, in the 1921 work of the same name was damaged by the French occupation. However, the tree's environment - including the rising daylight - indicates better development. The meaning of his pictures suited the current German public taste, Friedrich's pictures were in demand.
The demand for his works only temporarily improved his financial circumstances. After the wars of liberation, however, the patriotic mood turned into reactionary behavior on the part of those in government. His picture themes therefore later met with rejection. Despite his fame, Caspar David Friedrich, who came from a poor background, never became rich. Even after the demand for his pictures waned, an economically difficult situation quickly arose again, which was further exacerbated by his illness in the last years of his life. The shy artist increasingly blocked himself from his fellow human beings and became isolated. Access to him also became increasingly difficult for his wife and two children.
Although Friedrich's paintings were not granted long-term success during his lifetime, his painting style shaped not only the Romantic era, but also the subsequent art eras of his century. With his sensitive atmospheric images at different times of the year or day, he is considered the most important landscape painter of the Romantic era.
Caspar David Friedrich died on May 7, 1840 in Dresden.