Cross Overlooking the Baltic Sea
- Original dimensions
- 33.5 x 45 cm
- Museum
- New Pavilion
- Year
- 1813
Scene depicted
In this composition , a cross rises on a promontory, overlooking a calm sea with ethereal hues. The gaze is drawn to the striking contrast between the stone cross, a symbol of faith, and the open marine landscape, evoking both solitude and serenity. The Baltic Sea, in its apparent tranquility, seems to whisper the secrets of the universe, inviting meditation.
Historical context
Artwork: Cross Overlooking the Baltic Sea |BRK| Artist: Caspar David Friedrich |BRK| Year: 1813 |BRK| Museum: New Pavilion |BRK| Dimensions: 33.5 x 45 cm |BRK|
Place in the artist's career
"Cross Overlooking the Baltic Sea" represents a crucial turning point in Friedrich's career, symbolizing his deepening pictorial language and his Romantic vision of nature. In contrast to " The Monk by the Sea " and " The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog ", this canvas testifies to a spiritual quest and a more pronounced emotional dialogue with the landscape.
Anecdote
Caspar David Friedrich once stated: “Nature is not only what we see, but also what we feel.” Thus, immortalized by his painting , he captures the contemplation of a gentle morning, as a cross majestically rises against the vastness of the sea, suggesting a dialogue between the spiritual and the natural.