Monastery Graveyard in Snow
(after Caspar David Friedrich) — 2011

by Michelle L Hofer
Acrylic and metal leaf on canvas

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) was a German Romantic landscape artist. What is significant about Friedrich is his extraordinary ability to reproduce the natural world in faithful detail while at the same time imbuing it with spiritual and religious significance. Friedrich’s work occupies an area between landscape and sacred picture — a hybrid role called “landscape as icon”. Most notably, Friedrich was the first artist to ever create an altar piece featuring a landscape painting. Friedrich was also one of the first Romantic era artists to portray a winter landscape of which Monastery Graveyard in Snow is an excellent example. Friedrich painted the piece between 1817 and 1819 though it was destroyed in the bombing of Dresden, Germany during World War II. Images of this artwork still exist, however they are in black and white format only.

Sadly, Friedrich’s art is lesser known today due to his fall from favor following World War II during which Friedrich’s work was appropriated by the Nazi party to gain sentiment for their cause. Hitler was said to have held Friedrich in the highest regard. Friedrich’s reputation abroad saw a restoration during the 1970’s.

God is everywhere, in the smallest grain of sand. — Caspar David Friedrich