If you’ve not heard of Casper David Friedrich (1774–1840), you’re not alone. While this German Romantic landscape artist is beloved by his contemporary countrymen more than 250 years after his birth, only five of his works exist in the U.S. — hence the cultural gap, as Americans have had little chance to encounter his work.
This fact was pointed out to a group of media hosted by the German National Tourism Office on the occasion of The Met’s opening of America’s first major retrospective: “Casper David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature.” Max Hollein, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said, “Until now, the American audience has not had the opportunity to truly experience Friedrich’s work beyond a few isolated pieces — but this exhibition changes that.” He contrasted access to Monet, for example, with more than 30 works of art residing in The Met.
Andreas Michaelis, German Ambassador to the U.S., concurred adding, “For many Americans, Friedrich’s name is unfamiliar, but this exhibition will place him and German Romanticism firmly on the map.” In his remarks, the ambassador spoke to American art that was largely developed on landscapes, a clear connection to Friedrich’s focus.
The Casper David Friedrich retrospective, “The Soul of Nature” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a remarkable display, rewarding viewers with a significant understanding of German Romanticism. In bringing this artist’s stunning landscapes to the attention of American art lovers, we bridge a cultural gap.
The artist created evocative pictures that portrayed a profound between landscapes and the inner soul. On Baltic treks from Dresden and beside the riverbanks of the Elbe, his inspiration came from surrounding mist and mountains, rocky promontories, fields and meadows, the night sky, and abandoned religious structures.
Most famous among the paintings on view, and never before seen in the U.S., is “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” — a smartly attired traveler pauses on an outcrop to survey the surroundings, leaving the observer to guess what holds his attention.
Many of the 75 works that explore Friedrich’s intense approach to landscape painting are on loan in collaboration with key museums: National Gallery in Berlin, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, and Hamburger Kunsthalle. The exhibition at The Met is on view through May 11, 2025.