Thursday, December 2, 2010

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog

(click to enlarge)
Caspar David Friedrich
(German, 1774-1940)
Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, 1818
Oil on canvas
Some meaning of this work is lost in the translation of its title. In German, the title is "Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer." There are several things to note about this German title. First of all, Wanderer exists as both the word for "wanderer" and for the word "hiker." The character can thus be seen as lost and trying to find purpose, or as a resolute journeyman. The second subtlety is that the word "Nebelmeer" translates as "Fogsea", or "the Fog Sea." The first of these leads to a more abstract and philosophical view that complements the "wanderer" translation of the first word. The second is more concrete and challenging, complementing the view of the determined hiker.
 from wikipedia

5 comments:

  1. I love the movement and light in this one :)

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  2. Either way, there's something so adventuresome about that picture! I like it. :D

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  3. Hey Rosemary, can't you just imagine Squiddy pulling him into the mist?? :)

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  4. Emily, that would make the painting even cooler. XD

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