Room 39

A small landscape can contain a very particular kind of weather. Look for the point where light reaches a wall, a tree or a patch of ground, then notice how little paint may be needed to establish the rest of the view. Artists had long made studies outdoors, using paper or small panels that were easier to carry. Some worked quickly to catch a passing effect, while others planned a scene with considerable care. This room brings those studies into conversation with more composed landscapes. Friedrich’s Winter Landscape also suggests how a view of nature could carry a spiritual meaning. Size and apparent spontaneity alone cannot tell you how a picture was made.