Massif, c. 1830

Friedrich Gauermann’s (1807–1862) oil study shows the Dachstein Massif, which he rendered in a close-up view. The contrast between the sunlit and shaded parts of the cliffs makes for a harmonious pictorial composition. The splendid rocky landscape is enveloped by the gentle perspective of air and color. This atmospheric phenomenon plays an important part in the painting’s overall ambiance. Gauermann’s landscapes were invariably preceded by intense preparatory work. He prepared his paintings by means of numerous studies of details, in which he captured nature and its picturesque charms. His estate includes many studies of mountains and cliffs. The Dachstein was one of the favored motifs in alpine painting of the Biedermeier era. Along with Gauermann, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793–1865), too, explored this motif, for instance in his rendering Dachstein with Gosausee.

AGW, 2023