Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

Lore & Background

The painting was created around 1818, a period when Friedrich married Caroline Brommer and traveled to his hometown of Greifswald. The landscape elements were sketched in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and rearranged in the studio. The identity of the man is uncertain, though some suggest it is a self-portrait based on similarities such as red hair. Friedrich was a frequent user of the Rückenfigur (rear-facing figure), and this work is perhaps the most famous example due to the subject's prominence.

Reader's Guide

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog is closely associated with Romanticism, a movement that emerged after the Age of Enlightenment. The painting has been interpreted as an emblem of self-reflection or contemplation of life's path, and the landscape evokes the sublime. Friedrich stated, 'The artist should paint not only what he has in front of him but also what he sees inside himself.' The work also reflects Friedrich's German liberal and nationalist feeling, as the figure may wear an Altdeutsche outfit, a political statement of the era. While not immediately regarded as a masterpiece, Friedrich's reputation improved in the early 20th century, and the painting became particularly popular during the 1970s, appearing in both popular and high culture. Its provenance is unclear until 1939, when it was displayed in Berlin, and it was acquired by the Hamburger Kunsthalle in 1970, where it remains.

Did You Know?

• The painting is considered one of the masterpieces of the Romantic movement and one of its most representative works.
• Friedrich was a common user of the Rückenfigur (rear-facing figure) in his paintings; Wanderer is perhaps the most famous example.
• The provenance of the artwork after its creation is unknown, but by 1939 it was on display in a Berlin gallery.
• The painting has been interpreted as an expression of Friedrich's German liberal and nationalist feeling.