Art Analysis - The Abbey in the Oakwood
The Abbey in the Oakwood was painted by Caspar David Friedrich. This oil painting was painted during the years 1809 and 1810 in Germany, and shown in an art exhibit in 1810. His painting was well-liked, and purchased by King Frederick William III following the exhibit. Currently, the painting hangs inside the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin.
The reason I chose to analyze this painting is because I find the gloomy atmosphere and showcase of decay to evoke emotion. The darkness that has fallen on the deteriorated abbey and the dead oak trees give you a feeling of sadness. It showcases the passing of time, and to me, makes me think of how nature reclaims everything. Not only that but the monks in the painting are entering the doorway, seemingly to bury a body, yet the graveyard is in shambles. Why would they be burying a body in this unattended graveyard? Why was the abbey abandoned in the first place? I would argue the answer to all of these questions is time. Time comes for everything.
The crescent moon that appears in the top right of the painting symbolizes either the beginning or the end, but either way, I like to think of it as the only element that has withstood the burden of time. The abbey, humans, and oak trees all show signs of deterioration and death, but the moon continues its cycle. The sun rises and falls every morning and night. The bright streak across the middle of the painting shows the first or last light of the day, drowning the abbey in darkness. No matter what time of day or part of the moon cycle you believe it to be, this painting is stunningly and thought-provokingly somber.
Bibliography
Singer, James. “Masterpiece Story: Abbey in the Oakwood by Caspar David Friedrich.” Daily Art Magazine, 16 March 2024, https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/abbey-in-the-oakwood/
Greenwood, David. “Reflection on a painting by Caspar David Friedrich: The Abbey in the Oak Wood (c. 1809).” Brislington Churches & Community Newsletter site, September 2020, https://guy-wilkinson.com/reflection-on-a-painting-by-caspar-david-friedrich-the-abbey-in-the-oak-wood-c-1809/
Hello Mariah, I like the dark atmosphere of this painting. The environment feels decrepit and wicked but is also somewhat calming. I also really like your analogy of the moon withstanding the burden of time. It gives a different perspective to this painting that I did not initially have. Thank you for sharing this painting; I found it unique.
ReplyDeleteHi Mariah!
ReplyDeleteI really love the spooky feeling in this painting. One of the cool aspects of it to me is that the colors and the texture of the colors feel very cold and ominous; I almost think anything could have been painted as the subject, and it would have a heavy feeling! The subject (spooky scene, trees, monks, etc.) only adds to that feeling and gives it a sense of mystery and depth! Thank you for sharing this piece!
-Andy