Arcadópolis
The Watzmann
Caspar David Friedrich, 1824–1825
What you see
The landscape climbs in layers. Below, a rocky slope in reddish and green tones runs the full width; in its middle rises a column of stacked stones with a small fir tree. Behind come wooded hills and a dark, pyramid-shaped mountain. At the top, the snowy peaks of the Watzmann fill the upper part and lead the eye to the highest summit.
The contrast is clear: warm ochres, reds and greens below, cool blues and whites above. The snow is lit from the right, revealing every crease in the rock. Everything is painted in fine detail, with no visible brushstrokes. Watch for the young birch trees to the right of the stone column and the scattered rocks on the far right hillside.
About Caspar David Friedrich
Caspar David Friedrich painted landscapes that invite you to dream: mountains in the mist, frozen seas and moons over the forest. His figures often appear from behind, gazing at nature, so that we look along with them. He walked for hours drawing trees, rocks and clouds.
More by Caspar David Friedrich
The Arcadópolis Museum has 443 public-domain works in 40 rooms, free to explore in 3D in your browser.