Caspar David Friedrich (German, 1774–1840) was a leading painter of the German Romantic movement, known for landscapes that foreground themes of spirituality, solitude, and the sublime. Trained at the Copenhagen Academy and active primarily in Dresden, Friedrich combined careful natural observation with symbolic and allegorical motifs, often employing the Rückenfigur (a figure seen from behind) to mediate the viewer’s encounter with vast natural settings.
His work reflects both Protestant religiosity and contemporary debates on German national identity in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. Though his reputation declined after his death, Friedrich’s paintings were rediscovered in the early 20th century and have since been recognized as central to Romantic aesthetics and influential in the development of modern landscape painting. Today, he is represented in major museum collections worldwide, and in 2024 his 250th anniversary was marked by numerous exhibitions, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring works from across the globe.
