German Romanticism is not just a period of art, but of philosophy, literature, and music (think Beethoven) as well. It was a set of social attitudes of the time brought out through these various cultural elements, but my focus here will be painting, and specifically landscapes. I have enjoyed them for many years since I first discovered their existence in the early 2000s. I find these works often make me want to visit the places they depict.
This is Landschaft mit Gebirgssee am Morgen (Landscape with Mountain Lake, Morning) by Caspar David Friedrich painted circa 1823-1825. Friedrich is one of the giants of the movement, as can be seen quite clearly in this work.Another Caspar David Friedrich. This one is titled Der einsame Baum (The Lonely Tree) and was painted in 1822. I hope that tree was real because it sure looks fantastic and ancient. This is Ruine Einer Kapelle in der Nahe eines Flusses bei aufgehendem Mond (Ruin of a Chapel Near a River with Rising Moon) by Carl Rottman, another major artist of the period. Personally I am more in love with the river than the chapel or moon, but those are pretty cool too.This painting is Joseph Anton Koch’s Der Schmadribachfall (The Waterfall) finished in 1821. The man at the bottom may be sweaty, dirty, and working hard, but it still seems very enviable given that location.
