Caspar David Friedrich was born in Greifswald in 1774, which at that time belonged to Sweden. In Sweden, Friedrich is known, among other things, as the inspiration for the Meditation Grove at Skogskyrkogården, where the architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz are supposed to have had Friedrich’s work “Kulle och plöjd åker nära Dresden” (1830) as a direct model for the design.
In 2024, Germany will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), whose works are considered symbols of the Romantic era. Germany is, according to several market surveys, one of the top cultural travel destinations among European travelers and the diverse offer in the country provides opportunities for a varied holiday with a focus on culture and art.
No artist has embodied the Romantic belief in a soulful nature imbued with the divine as Friedrich. His images convey a strong sense of a spiritual presence beneath the surface of reality. This duality gives Friedrich’s art a fascinating and enigmatic dimension.
True to his own motto “The painter must paint, not only what he sees in front of him, but also what he sees within himself”, his works reflect longing, melancholy, thoughtfulness and love of nature.
The National Museum in Stockholm presented about ninety works by Friedrich from 2 October 2009 to 10 January 2010 and stated that “Despite the connection to Sweden, there is not a single work by Friedrich’s hand in our country and his name is today far less known than it deserves”. autumn, the National Museum in Stockholm will have an exhibition called Romantikens blick, between September 26, 2024 and January 5, 2025, where Caspar David Friedrich is one of the contemporary artists on display.
Friedrich’s way of traveling – on foot and with a sketchbook in his luggage – fits well with the contemporary spirit. On the occasion of his anniversary year, we have here some travel tips where you can follow in his footsteps on paths in the landscapes that he felt drawn to.
Formative years in Greifswald
Horses graze in an English landscape, Greifswald’s church spire is visible on the horizon. This view of Friedrich’s hometown, where he received his first drawing lessons, became the beginning of the life that shaped him as an artist. The city is almost unchanged to this day.
Discover his subjects on a walk along the Caspar David Friedrich Bildweg. On the trip, you visit his childhood home and the lovingly renovated Old Town, the museum harbor where some 50 old ships are now again at anchor and the monastery ruins of Eldena. If you are interested in active culture, you can take a bike ride along the “Route for Northern German Romanticism”, which combines nature experiences with romance and Caspar David Friedrich. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the collection of Friedrich’s works at the Pommersche Landesmuseum.
Happy days on Rügen
Three people on a hillside above white cliffs, framed by shady trees. The landscapes of the island of Rügen provided Caspar David Friedrich with the perfect background, especially for his work “Chalk Cliffs on Rügen”. From the beginning of the 19th century, Friedrich often traveled to Germany’s largest island and it was also here that he spent his honeymoon in 1818.
Immerse yourself in the unique landscape on a hike along the Hochuferweg in Jasmund National Park. The new skywalk in the Königsstuhl National Park, with its dramatic location above the sea, can also take you out in Friedrich’s footsteps; in short, you will encounter the great painter’s motifs everywhere on Rügen – megalithic tombs, fishing boats and deserted beaches.
Dresden, the hub of life
Dresden’s towers can only be glimpsed, but nature is at the center of Friedrich’s painting “Hügel und Bruchacker bei Dresden”. The great artist lived in the Saxon capital for over 40 years and became a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1824.
In 2024, the Museum Albertinum has a major special exhibition with the largest collection of his works. The exhibition is planned together with Kupferstich-Kabinett. Don’t miss the memorial in the museum park, erected in Friedrich’s honor. Also visit Trinity Cemetery, where he himself is buried – this place is also immortalized in one of his iconic works.
Sandstensberg of the Elbe, Saxon Switzerland
Glowing clouds surround the gray mountain peaks of Saxon Switzerland, and in front of them stands a hiker with a stick. The painting “Walking over the Sea of Mist” represents like nothing else the fascination of the Elbe sandstone mountains, which Friedrich often visited. In 1813 he spent several months in the small village of Krippen, which is located right here.
On the 15 kilometer long Caspar David Friedrich-Weg, the view of the rocky heights and cliffs can be enjoyed from one of the many viewpoints in the Sächsische Schweiz National Park. Many of his subjects are from this 116 kilometer long Malerweg hiking trail – an unforgettable hiking experience.
