The artwork entitled “Greifswald in moonlight,” created by Caspar David Friedrich in 1817, is an exemplary piece from the Romanticism art movement. This landscape painting, measuring 22.5 x 30.5 cm, is housed in the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
The artwork portrays a serene night scene under the moonlight, characterized by an atmospheric interplay of light and shadow that is typical of Friedrich’s work. In the foreground, two sailing boats are visible, their masts echoing the vertical lines of the fishing nets and poles that stretch across the landscape. The dark silhouettes of these elements contrast with the soft, luminous glow of the sky above. The distant cityscape of Greifswald, distinguished by its prominent church steeples, fades into the horizon, enveloped in a gentle haze. The overall mood evokes a sense of tranquility and contemplation, capturing the sublime beauty of the natural world in harmony with human elements.
