The Image of Caspar David Friedrich: Abbey in the Oak Forest, 1810 Q Genre of the

painting? How highly ranked is this genre in the classical/traditional system of

art and in the Romantic system of art?
Friedrich�s oil panting evokes a feeling of loneliness and darkness. Hence, I
believe that the genre of the painting is that of death. When it comes to ranking
the hierarchy of genres there are several things to remember first. During the 18th
century high-ranking art genre were artworks based on the effort of the artists to
render the art in a way that showed universal essence and not merely by copying
other artworks. Hence, an artist�s painting showing idealism would be privileged
over a painting that showed realism (Rosen 61).
Friedrich�s painting shows it is more of a deaths cape since there is a building in
ruins which seems like a church, based on its windows and size. The painting would
be ranked as the highest in its form in the classical or traditional system of art.
However, in the romantic system of art, it would be of the lowest genres. A radical
aspect of early romanticism was connected to the fact that it attempted to replace
historical paintings with landscapes (Rosen 51). In the painting it is clear that
the painter has incorporated religious figures into a landscape.
Q. 2.Main subject of this painting and what elements or figures do you see? Which
ones indicate the human presence? Which ones are anthropomorphic? Describe what the
artist did to create the anthropomorphic effect.
It is a bit hard to see the background, but a closer look shows a few men walking
towards the ruins of the church. The five religious men, who are monks, also seem
to be carrying something. It is a graveyard, based on the few graves with crosses
on them. Given that it is a graveyard, one assumes that they may be carrying
coffins or crosses. The building seems to be made using a gothic style, which in
the 18th century was commonly used for building churches.
The painter has also incorporated other structures in the painting such as the
great oak trees growing next to the church ruins. The connection between the trees
and the ruins of the building suggests a spiritual presence in nature and perhaps
that of the society. This is what gives viewers an anthropomorphic effect because
of the connection between the tall oak trees and the tall building to show that God
is up there and not below. As noted by Rosen in his article, on Caspar Friedrich
the painting shows a religious connection in relation to heaven and earth (56) The
lower third part of the painting lies in darkness but the highest pat with leafless
oak trees is lit by a sun that is probably setting. The graves on the ground and
the five men walking also indicate a human presence in the area.
Q.3. Charles Rosen describes the ambition of Romantic art as the creation of
natural symbols independent of conventions. What elements might Friedrich have
intended as symbolic in this painting? How do you know?
Elements such as the church in ruins, the oak trees, the monks and the graveyard
are all symbolic. It allows the viewers to question themselves and ask if there is
anything sacred, since it seems like everything has its end. For example, in the
painting, the oak trees are leafless, meaning they are dying. The oak trees have
also taken over the church which in ruins. The graveyards also accentuate that the
monks who represent human beings also fall.
Work Cited
Rosen, Charles. "Caspar David Friedrich and the language of landscape." In
Romanticism and realism: the mythology of nineteenth-century art. New York: Viking
Press, 1984.