Today we continue our special month with the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden to admire their wonderful collection. 🙂 Enjoy!
The inscription on the boat in the foreground reads “Maxn. v. Speck”, originally thought to be the signature of an artist before the painting was considered to be the work of Friedrich himself. In keeping with the symbolic character of his landscapes, allegories of human life are also included in his seascapes. Sailing ships leave the harbor that protects it, embark on a perilous journey, and finally return to the safe harbor from which they departed. In fact, the painting’s inscription refers to the art collector Maximilian Speck von Sternburg in Lützschena, near Leipzig, for whom Friedrich painted the painting. The abbreviated name appears on the rowboat ahead, which has been stranded and bathed in the sunken sun – the “boat of life” has reached the destination of its journey. However, this allegory of death is not a symbol of ultimate despair, as the end of life also means entry into divine eternity. In a seemingly endless sequence, the sailboats struggled to make their way from the vast sea to the port so close to us. The crescent of the first quarter moon is almost hidden behind a veil of clouds, the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the night and the intense color effects of the painting in the special solemn texture of rich blue-violet tones reinforce the contemplative seriousness of the picture of Christian and religious thought.
To all Eastern Christians: Happy Easter to all!
If you like the work of Caspar David Friedrich, check out a super high-quality print of one of his most famous masterpieces in our DailyArt store .
Side note: Are you fascinated by the mysterious work of Caspar David Friedrich? Take a look at 10 of his most famous works . Stunning! :O
76.5 x 88.2 cm
Romanticism
Dresden State Art Collection
This article is reprinted from: https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/dailyartartwork/img-202204226262b3e201c72
This site is for inclusion only, and the copyright belongs to the original author.