»Art for a New Age«

CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH: Art for a New Age is the title of what is probably the most sensational exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle this year. It refers to Friedrich's impetus for a new view of landscape painting in the first decades of the 19th century. The sacred in the landscape, the longing for the past and a new relationship between man and nature made Friedrich a key figure in German Romanticism. The painter, who was already famous during his lifetime, dedicated himself to his mission − in old age at the expense of a successful career. The taste in art had changed, Friedrich's works were no longer in demand, but he did not adapt his works to taste. In the 20th century, his work was appropriated for propaganda purposes by the National Socialists, before being widely rediscovered from the 1970s onwards. The Hamburger Kunsthalle is now bringing together over 60 paintings and around 100 drawings for his exhibition. These include a number of famous works that are rarely lent out, such as Chalk Cliffs on Rügen (1818) and The Monk by the Sea (1808-1810), which will be on display from December 15, 2023 to April 1, 2024.

Visitors can use the drawings to understand Friedrich's working methods. Spending time in nature and capturing landscape details were an essential part of his work. He then used the drawings to compose the paintings in his studio. Today, the artist is known all over the world, which is why the Hamburger Kunsthalle is juxtaposing current receptions with the original works. They convey a different view of the white-influenced history of art, shedding light on the darker sides of life in the early 19th century and on colonialism. The 20 or so artists include Elina Brotherus, Julian Charrière, David Claerbout, Olafur Eliasson, Alex Grein, Hiroyuki Masuyama, Mariele Neudecker, Ulrike Rosenbach, Susan Schuppli, Santeri Tuori and Kehinde Wiley.