German painter Caspar David Friedrich's oeuvre was almost completely disregarded by the contemporary art world following his death, especially after being associated with Nazis amid World War II.
However, a major exhibition in Hamburg, Germany celebrating his works in time for his 250th birthday marked the resurgence of the Romantic artist's mystifying work, headlined by his most notable work: "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" (c. 1817).
Caspar David Friedrich, "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" or "Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer," c.1817, oil on canvas, 95 × 75 cm.
Friedrich Exhibition in Hamburg's Kunsthalle, 'Art for a New Age'
Hamburger Kunsthalle commemorated what would've been the German Romanticist's 250th birthday through an anniversary exhibition dubbed "Caspar David Friedrich: Art for a New Age" starting last Dec. 15 and running through April 1 of this year.
This ongoing show is the most comprehensive in highlighting the forerunning work that Friedrich has done in contribution to Germany's Romanticism movement, which comprises more than 60 paintings from the artist.
Among these works are some of Friedrich's most iconic, such as his oil on canvas painting "The Monk by the Sea" (1808 - 1810), alongside 100 drawings and curated artworks inspired by the artist's expansive oeuvre.
The retrospectives featured in the show are made by a total of twenty contemporary artists, including Kehinde Wiley, whose "The Prelude (Babacar Mané) (2021)" work is derived from Friedrech's "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog".
In Wiley's version, the explorer is replaced by a Black male figure sporting the modern "cornrows" hairstyle.
Friedrich's Dedication to the Natural World
The exhibition is more than a showcase of Friedrich's genius and flair for depicting the mystifying energies of the natural world, as it also celebrates the enduring influence of such an undertaking in the art world as a whole, as evident in the featured retrospectives.
Of this endeavor, Wiley told London's National Gallery in a 2021 interview: "Painting is more than a pretty picture on a wall; it is something that we espouse, something that points out to the world, something that, at its best, communicates our virtues."
This viewpointis perfectly surmised by one of the most known quotes by Friedrich, where he once said: "'I must stay alone and know that I am alone to contemplate and feel nature in full; I have to surrender myself to what encircles me."
"I have to merge with my clouds and rocks to be what I am," he added.
The Hamburg exhibition is, however, only the start of the "Caspar David Friedrich Festival" that was initiated to celebrate his anniversary year.
Following this particular show, Berlin's Alte Nationalgelrie and the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden will also hold their shows dedicated to Friedrich, each with its own different focus.
After 2024's series of exhibitions, the resurging movement will culminate with the first US solo Friedrich showcase called "Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature," as held by New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Surely, decades after his death, Friedrich is now reaching new heights; one that he deserved.
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