Traunsee with “Schlafende Griechin”, 1907

The work depicts the Traunsee lake with a view of the Erlakogel, the highest mountain on its eastern shore. Here, the Traunstein mountain range slopes steeply towards the bottom of the lake. As the silhouette resembles a striking female profile, the locals call this ridge “Schlafende Griechin” (“sleeping Greek woman”). Richard Gerstl’s (1883–1908) expressive style of painting makes this association appear less clear. He renders rock and forest structures with fast, vehement brushstrokes in shades of gray and blue. The sky and the lake define the upper and lower margin with their coloration of yellowish and white nuances. Alongside segments with detailed brushwork, Gerstl uses gestic, broad brushstrokes to apply color to other areas. Within the few weeks that he spent in the Salzkammergut region in the summer of 1907, the painter abandoned his Pointillist style of painting and turned to a free, expressive style.

AK, 2022