Johan Christian Dahl (1788-1857)

Neue Pinakothek

The Norwegian artist Johan Christian Dahl belonged to Caspar David Friedrich's close circle of friends in Dresden - in fact, they even lived in the same house over a long period of time. Friedrich's influence is visible in Dahl's general approach to art and in his atmospherically-charged landscape style. Dahl studied at the Academy in Copenhagen as did Runge and Friedrich; however it was only after a stay in Italy 1820/21 that he discovered his own painting form that distinguishes itself through a confident and liberal use of color. Landscape painting in general had a special significance in the 19th century; no other art genre could express nature's changeability and induce such feelings. Many romantic artists deliberately exposed themselves to the reality of the natural experience on long walks and hikes: Having felt the world as a physical natural force was practically a prerequisite before transforming it into art. And Dahl was no exception: He and Caspar David Friedrich undertook several treks during which countless sketches were made. Dahl's cloud studies are very well known and admired and later, in the studio, these studies served as inspiration for fully worked paintings. Plein air (or open air) painting, in which the work is actually painted out of doors, was to first become common after the middle of the century.