Moonrise

This german romantic painter usually shows his subjects face away from the viewer in a peaceful landscape. He shows us contemplative men not talking or willing to show their face and listen to anything else. They want to enjoy nature undisturbed. It is typical of the time when humanity grew uncertain about relating to nature. Mechanical time was rising and estranging the people from their contemplation on nature, natural time and God. Friedrich shows this and asks us to be aware of the beauty of the moon. It does not even require any color but sepia unlike many of his other paintings. For us christians with our repression of the lunar cultures it seems to be a mandatory meditation.

 location: Hermitage Museum

nederlandse versie

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