“Woman Before the Rising Sun,” created by Caspar David Friedrich between 1818 and 1820, is an oil-on-canvas painting that exemplifies the Romanticism movement. This landscape artwork is housed in the Folkwang Museum, located in Essen, Germany.
The artwork depicts a woman standing before the dawn’s early light, facing the horizon with open arms in a stance that conveys awe and reverence. The sky is painted with warm, vibrant hues that transition from deep reds and oranges near the horizon to lighter tones upwards, suggesting the rising sun. The woman’s figure is silhouetted against the glowing sky, her form and dress rendered in muted tones that contrast with the surrounding natural scene. The backdrop features softly rolling hills and sparsely placed trees, all bathed in the early morning light, which adds a serene and contemplative quality to the scene. Friedrich’s detailed brushwork brings depth and texture to the foreground, particularly in the grassy meadow and rocky outcroppings, enhancing the overall sense of tranquility and natural beauty.
