Caspar David Friedrich was born on 5 September 1774 in the Pomeranian town of Greifswald. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the most significant painter of German Romanticism, several museums are hosting special exhibitions, notably the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, and the Alte Nationalgalerie of Berlin, which own the most important collections of Friedrich's works globally. Two additional exhibitions are also highly recommended for a visit.
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Pomeranian State Museum, Greifswald, Germany
The Pomeranian State Museum in Caspar David Friedrich's hometown of Greifswald is paying tribute to the city's renowned son with three special exhibitions. The museum's collection features six paintings and over 60 drawings and prints by the artist, which will be showcased for the first time from 28 April to 4 August 2024 in the exhibition 'Caspar David Friedrich: Lifelines,' presented nearly in its entirety for the first time. Additionally, there will be other exhibits and pieces by contemporaries that illuminate Friedrich's life.
From 18 August to 6 October 2024, the anniversary exhibition 'Caspar David Friedrich: Places of Longing' will continue around his birthday at the beginning of September. For the seven-week exhibition, the museum has achieved a significant feat by bringing Friedrich's renowned work, Chalk Cliffs on Rügen, part of the Kunst Museum Winterthur collection, to Friedrich's homeland for the first time as a star attraction. The exhibition will conclude from 16 October 2024 to 5 January 2025 with the special exhibition 'Caspar David Friedrich: Hometown,' which centres on Caspar David Friedrich's lifelong bond with his home region. Among other pieces, the painting Meadows near Greifswald, usually housed in Hamburg, will be on display.
Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany
Since 15 December 2023, visitors have had the opportunity to explore the anniversary exhibition 'Caspar David Friedrich: Art for a New Era' at the Hamburger Kunsthalle. The exhibition delves into the artist's connection with nature and his innovative approach to depicting it, which influenced both his contemporaries and subsequent artists to the present day. This influence is further explored through works by contemporary artists, such as Olafur Eliasson, Ulrike Rosenbach, and Kehinde Wiley.
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Among the approximately 60 paintings and 100 drawings showcased, notable highlights include Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog and The Sea of Ice from the Kunsthalle's collection, along with loaned works such as Monk by the Sea, Two Men Contemplating the Moon, and once more, Chalk Cliffs on Rügen. The exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle ends on 1 April 2024.
Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany
The second anniversary exhibition of the three major Friedrich collections is set to take place from 19 April to 4 August 2024 at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. In collaboration with the Museum of Prints and Drawings, the museum will present approximately 60 paintings and 50 drawings in the exhibition titled 'Caspar David Friedrich: Infinite Landscapes.' Visitors can anticipate encountering many of the artist's iconic works, including The Stages of Life, The Watzmann, Cairn in Snow, and The Abbey in the Oakwood, alongside once again The Sea of Ice and Chalk Cliffs on Rügen.
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Berlin played a pivotal role in Caspar David Friedrich's early acclaim and his subsequent rediscovery: in 1810, he captivated the public at the Berlin Academy exhibition with his pair of paintings Monk by the Sea and The Abbey in the Oakwood; in 1906, the Alte Nationalgalerie reignited interest in the artist, who had faded into obscurity during the latter half of the 19th century, by presenting 93 works by Caspar David Friedrich in its 'German Century Exhibition.'
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, Germany
'Caspar David Friedrich: Where it all Started' is the title of the third significant anniversary exhibition, set to be showcased at the Albertinum and the Kupferstich-Kabinett in Dresden from 24 August 2024. The exhibition title alludes to Dresden being Friedrich's home and workplace for over 40 years, where he developed his own unique approach to depicting nature in oil painting, inspired by the Old Masters of the Picture Gallery and the surrounding landscape, which he explored during extensive hikes and documented in his sketchbooks.
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The artist's seminal works, now revered as icons of art history, were crafted in Dresden. At the Albertinum exhibition, Friedrich's landscapes are juxtaposed with the Old Masters from the Dresden collection that served as his inspiration. Meanwhile, at the Kupferstich-Kabinett in the Residenzschloss, the focus is on Caspar David Friedrich's artistic journey, illuminated by numerous drawings he created during his travels. The exhibitions end on 5 January 2025 at the Albertinum and on 17 November 2024 at the Kupferstich-Kabinett.
Klassik Stiftung, Weimar, Germany
The exhibition presented by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar at the Schiller Museum from 22 November 2024 to 2 March 2025 deserves special mention. It explores the significance of Weimar and Goethe in the artist's formative years. Notably, it was Goethe who insisted that Friedrich receive part of the first prize from the Weimar Friends of Art in 1805, despite the fact that the two works he submitted did not fully meet the specified criteria.
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In the exhibition 'Caspar David Friedrich, Goethe, and Romanticism in Weimar,' the significant Weimar collection of works by Caspar David Friedrich will be showcased for the first time ever. Alongside pieces by Goethe, the exhibition will also feature works by other Romantic artists.
Future Exhibitions
Next year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will also be celebrating the anniversary year with a major Caspar David Friedrich retrospective from 7 February - 11 May 2025.
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