The Monastery in the Forest

1823

Carl Blechen

Associated Names
Carl Blechen

Artist, German, 1798 - 1840

The image shows an old stone castle surrounded by trees. A tall spire and turret rise above the castle. The horizon is low in the composition, mostly hidden by tree foliage. The drawing is detailed with intricate lines and cross-hatching, creating textures and shadows on the stone and vegetation. The color palette is monochrome sepia. A small river flows near the castle with shrubs on its banks. A small figure sits near the stream. Trees continue into the background.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on chine collé

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

  • Dimensions

    plate: 19.5 × 24.9 cm (7 11/16 × 9 13/16 in.)
    sheet: 29.9 × 41.9 cm (11 3/4 × 16 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.92.172

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Blechen 1940, no. 477, State only

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Nationalgalerie, Berlin (Lugt 1640); Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin (Lugt 2482). Rudolf Philip Goldschmidt [c.1840-1914], Berlin (Lugt 2926). (C.G. Boerner, Inc., New York); Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C., purchased October 18, 1993; Gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2014

  • Modern German Prints and Drawings from the Kainen Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2014.

Bibliography

1940

  • Karl Blechen: Leben, Würdigung, Werk. Berlin: Deutscher Verein für Kunstwissenschaft, 1940: no. 477, only.

Inscriptions

lettered below image, at right: Blechen 1823; on verso, in graphite, by later hand: Karl Blechen. 1823. Ruve 477. / 1798 Kottbus - Berlin 1840 / 7645

Wikidata ID

Q76556276

You may be interested in

Loading Results