Greifswald celebrates 250 years of Caspar David Friedrich with colorful events

Greifswald celebrates 250 years of Caspar David Friedrich with colorful events

In the picturesque Hanseatic city of Greifswald, Caspar David Friedrich is devoted to his 250th birthday for a whole year. On September 5, 1774, the famous painter saw the light of day, while the region was still part of Sweden. In his work, he was characterized by impressive natural landscapes and atmospheric lighting moods that still cause great admiration.

In honor of Friedrich, the city and its cultural institutions have planned over 400 events. This includes not only birthday parties and costume competitions, but also drawing courses and guided hikes in the places that inspired the artist. The highlights are the exhibitions in the state art collections in Dresden, where works by Friedrich are shown - a real opportunity to experience their art up close.

A versatile artist with a melancholic message

Friedrich's art is often associated with deep melancholy. This emotion not only evokes nostalgic feelings, but also combines timeless topics such as the longing for lost memories with current challenges, such as the climate crisis. An impressive mural in Cologne-Kalk takes up this possible connection between the past and the present: A hiker looks at a city that is veiled by fog and smoke, which is reminiscent of the refugee disasters on the Mediterranean

Literature critic Florian Illies dealt intensively with the phenomenon Friedrich and with his bestseller "Magic of Silence" initiated a broad discourse about the painter. He emphasizes that the passivity of the characters in Friedrich's works stimulates the viewer to think and can awaken an enormous longing. Such emotions are that, even in today's world, persuade many people to share landscapes with the painter's hashtag on social media.

Although Friedrich fought challenges such as depression throughout his life, his art often reflects a deep reference to religion. He came from a large family and experienced the loss of a brother early on. This traumatic experience is seen as a possible origin of his career as a romantic, since topics such as ice and water run through his work.

A sign for contemporary

His first large oil painting "The cross in the mountains" created shared opinions: some admired it as a masterpiece, others found it excessive. These opposites in the judgment about his art accompany Friedrich's work to this day. A draft for the altar of the Greifswald Marienkirche was also rejected, since its intuitive access to religion did not meet the conventional ideas of its time.

The artist was also an innovator in the field of art education; As a professor at the royal art academy in Dresden, he emphasized the importance of individuality and creativity in the learning process. "Not everything can be teached," was a central idea of Friedrich. He was convinced that art should emerge from an inner conviction and not of rigid rules, a philosophy that is still important in artists today.

After his death on May 7, 1840 in Dresden, where his grave is also located, the memory of his works was kept alive. Plans to upgrade his grave through a monument emphasize Friedrich's continuing importance for art history. In order to honor his inheritance, Hamburg also shows a special anniversary exhibition that evidently increases the interest and visibility of his works.

Overall, the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich offers a variety of insights into the life and work of one of the most important painters in Germany. The numerous events and exhibitions invite you to experience and appreciate the melancholy, beauty and tragedy of his art.