Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) was a German Romantic painter, best known for his haunting landscapes that placed human figures before the immensity of nature. His works embodied the Romantic spirit by combining spirituality, melancholy, and awe of the sublime. Friedrich’s compositions often feature vast skies, mist-covered mountains, ruined abbeys, and solitary figures seen from behind—a device that drew viewers into the scene and invited them to contemplate the infinite. Paintings such as Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818), The Abbey in the Oakwood (1810), and Chalk Cliffs on Rügen (1818) are icons of Romantic art, balancing precise natural detail with deep symbolic meaning. He elevated landscape painting from mere depiction to a profound expression of human emotion and transcendence, influencing generations of artists and thinkers.

Though acclaimed in his early career, Friedrich’s later years saw his style fall out of fashion as realism and modern trends rose. Yet his legacy resurfaced in the 20th century, when Symbolists, Expressionists, and Surrealists rediscovered his atmospheric power and visionary depth. Today, he is recognized as one of the greatest interpreters of the Romantic imagination.

On the personal side, Friedrich was born in Greifswald, in Pomerania (then under Swedish rule), the sixth of ten children. His mother died when he was seven, and he endured further loss when his brother drowned saving him from thin ice—a trauma that left a lasting mark on his art’s solemn tone. He studied in Copenhagen before settling in Dresden, where he spent most of his life. Known for his introverted and austere character, he married Caroline Bommer in 1818 and had three children. In his later years, Friedrich struggled with illness and financial hardship, passing away in Dresden in 1840.