All Of It: Episode Summary – "Caspar David Friedrich at the Met"

Host: Alison Stewart
Guests:

• Allison Hokanson – Specialist in 19th Century Central European Painting
• Joanna Shears Seidenstein – Specialist in Northern European Drawings and Prints
  Release Date: February 10, 2025
  Exhibition: Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Runs through May 11, 2025)

1. Introduction to the Episode

Alison Stewart sets the stage by introducing the focus of the episode: the major retrospective of Caspar David Friedrich at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She highlights the significance of this event as the first major Friedrich exhibition in the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of the artist's birth.

Alison Stewart [00:35]: "For the first time in the United States, it's happening at the Met."

2. Overview of Caspar David Friedrich and the Met Exhibition

Alison Stewart provides background on Friedrich, emphasizing his influence on landscape painting and the cultural context of his work. She introduces the guests, curators Allison Hokanson and Joanna Shears Seidenstein, who offer expert insights into Friedrich's art and its historical significance.

Alison Stewart [04:35]: "Friedrich's romantic landscapes evoke a sense of wonder or loneliness or spirituality."

3. Historical Context and Reception of Friedrich's Work

Allison Hokanson discusses why Friedrich's work had not been prominently featured in American museums until now. She attributes this to limited holdings in the U.S. and fluctuating interest tied to historical events, particularly the appropriation of his art by the Nazi party during World War II.

Allison Hokanson [02:44]: "Friedrich's work fell out of favor in the United States after the war but is now being celebrated again."

Joanna Shears Seidenstein elaborates on Friedrich's life in Dresden, the flourishing art scene, and the Romantic movement's emphasis on individuality and spirituality, which profoundly influenced his work.

Joanna Shears Seidenstein [04:18]: "He arrives really just as these early romantic ideas are circulating... emphasizing individuality, subjective perception, emotion, spirituality."

4. Artistic Analysis of Friedrich's Landscapes

The curators delve into what makes Friedrich's landscapes distinctive. Joanna Shears Seidenstein highlights Friedrich's mastery of light, color, perspective, and his unique compositional techniques that create tension and invite viewers into the landscape.

Joanna Shears Seidenstein [07:30]: "Friedrich had an extraordinary sensitivity to light, color, perspective, and vantage point."

Allison Hokanson discusses the use of the "Rückenfigur" (figure seen from the back) in Friedrich's paintings, which serves to engage viewers and invite personal reflection within the landscape.

Allison Hokanson [12:42]: "There's so much that's left open about what this work means. There's an invitation here to imagination and to place ourselves next to him."

5. Audience Interaction: Listener's Perspective

Alison Stewart shares a listener's call from Andrew, who attended the exhibition. Andrew praises the quality of Friedrich's work on display and discusses the exhibition's impact on his appreciation for the artist.

Andrew [09:15]: "The quality of his work is just so far beyond. It really hooked me."

6. Technical Aspects: Ink Wash Drawings

The conversation shifts to Friedrich's ink wash drawings, which resemble sepia photographs. Joanna Shears Seidenstein explains the methodology behind these works, emphasizing Friedrich's technical prowess and the medium's suitability for capturing the mood and atmosphere central to his art.

Joanna Shears Seidenstein [15:16]: "He produces these works that, indeed, when you look at them today, you almost think for a second you're looking at a photograph."

7. Scale and Intimacy in Friedrich's Paintings

The curators discuss the varying scales of Friedrich's works exhibited at the Met. Allison Hokanson suggests that smaller paintings create a sense of intimacy and personal devotion, drawing parallels to religious icons.

Allison Hokanson [18:42]: "Smaller pictures require less materials... creating a wonderful sense of intimacy."

8. Religious Iconography and Controversy

Joanna Shears Seidenstein addresses the merging of landscape and religious painting in Friedrich's work, which was controversial at the time. She explains how Friedrich's integration of spiritual elements into landscapes challenged the strict genre classifications of his era.

Joanna Shears Seidenstein [22:00]: "He shocked his contemporaries by merging landscape painting with religious symbolism."

9. Friedrich’s Work and the Nazi Party

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the complex relationship between Friedrich's art and the Nazi party. Allison Hokanson clarifies that Friedrich's association with Nazi ideology was a result of the Nazis appropriating his landscapes to embody German nationalism, long after Friedrich's death.

Allison Hokanson [23:17]: "Friedrich's art becomes entwined with Nazi ideologies... making it difficult to separate his work from that historically."

She further emphasizes the importance of understanding this historical context while appreciating Friedrich's landscapes, highlighting the danger of fervent nationalism.

Allison Hokanson [28:00]: "These works remind us of what the outcome of this really fervent nationalism and patriotism can be."

10. Cultural Legacy and Modern References

Alison Stewart concludes by connecting Friedrich's influence to contemporary culture, mentioning references in modern media such as the TV show Severance, which utilizes Friedrich's aesthetic to enhance its narrative.

Alison Stewart [28:00]: "I love seeing the latest episode of Severance, which referenced Friedrich... incorporating that with the mythology of Kier."

11. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with appreciation for the guests' insights and a reminder of the exhibition's ongoing run at the Met.

Allison Hokanson [28:37]: "Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here."

Exhibition Details:
Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature is currently open at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will run through May 11, 2025. The exhibit showcases Friedrich's paintings and drawings, offering a comprehensive look at his contribution to Romantic landscape painting and his enduring cultural legacy.

This episode of All Of It provides an in-depth exploration of Caspar David Friedrich's art, the historical context of his work, and its enduring impact on culture and modern media. Through expert analysis and personal anecdotes, listeners gain a richer understanding of Friedrich's landscapes and their significance both in his time and today.