Dear Friends,

Another fascinating trend that I perceive in Caspar David Friedrich's production is his frequent use of the vertical format in a higher number of works than is usual among artists - if we don't take portraits of people into account, that is. For example, in the beautiful but virtually unknown example below.



And also in this other painting which, unlike the previous one, is pretty famous.

Caspar David Friedrich - Rocky Ravine (oil on canvas, 1822-23)

I am sure this liking of verticality obeyed to an inner spiritual urge for Heaven on Friedrich's part, as otherwise demonstrated by his reiterative painting of crosses in very high and remote places. Here is another virtually unknown image of a cross by him but as part of an incredibly beautiful painting of a cathedral where his other compulsive trait, the opposition/complementariness of dark and light appears in unusual splendor.



In my next pots I will try to additionally incide on this latter characteristic of Friedrich's works.


Thank you,

Luis Miguel Goitizolo

Wow! That's deep.
Luis you take me back many decades to my youth, I vaguely remember walking through the cathedral the museums and whispering with my little friends about these gigantic somber pieces whilst trying to take in what the docent said I should see.


Always rebellious!

Hello Miguel & Roger,

Leave it to Joyce to 'tell it like it is'!! I always enjoy hearing your comments Joyce.

This one caught my attention. He really does use a lot of the dark and light in his paintings and the result is outstanding.

Thank you for continuing to let us see these major works.

I suppose you saw where I posted that our friend Roger is having computer problems. :-( Maybe soon he will be back.

Love,

Sara

Hi,

I'm back and looking

Quote:
Wow! That's deep.
Luis you take me back many decades to my youth, I vaguely remember walking through the cathedral the museums and whispering with my little friends about these gigantic somber pieces whilst trying to take in what the docent said I should see.


Always rebellious!