Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
Caspar David Friedrich
Description
In this painting, a solitary man stands on a rocky cliff, looking out over a vast, misty landscape. Jagged peaks rise through a sea of fog, and everything feels mysterious and endless. The man's back is to us, we don't see his face, which invites us to imagine that we're in his place, gazing out into the unknown.
He's dressed in dark green and holds a walking stick, suggesting he's climbed up to this high point. But the painting isn't really about the climb, it's about what he's experiencing now: a moment of quiet reflection and awe.
Analysis
Friedrich focuses on a personal moment of contemplation. The landscape is wild, beautiful, and a little unsettling. Nature isn't just a background, it's a powerful force that overwhelms the viewer. By turning the figure away from us, Friedrich makes this moment feel universal. It's not about this one man, it's about anyone standing on the edge of the world, searching for meaning.
Details
- Date:c. 1818
- Medium:Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:Around 94.8 cm x 74.8 cm
- Location:Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany