The Big Exhibit


I finally made it to Essen for the big Caspar David Friedrich exhibit. It was a bit disappointing, to be honest. I like his work, but the majority of the exhibit was his drawings and sketches. His paintings fall into two categories -- a) kind of dark & brooding and b)nature with wispy clouds/fog. Which probably drove the 18th cent. goth girls wild, though his stubborn refusal to shave his out-of-control mutton chops no doubt prevented him from capitalizing. He is the quintessential German painter: romantic, a bit depressed, and he personally invaded France twice.