Altarpiece Tetschen
Caspar David Friedrich · 1807
Why it's great
A cross rises on a mountaintop, surrounded by evergreen trees and glowing light. Friedrich painted it as an altarpiece, but it was more of a landscape than a typical religious painting, which caused a huge argument. It showed that nature could be a way to feel God. It was one of the most debated paintings of its time.
Where to see it
📍 AlbertinumDresden, Germany
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Caspar David Friedrich was born in the Baltic port of Greifswald, Germany, and later settled in Dresden. He painted quiet, mysterious landscapes of mountains, fog, ruins, and seashores, often with a tiny figure seen from behind. He believed nature was a way of feeling something divine. He became a hero of German Romanticism, though he was nearly forgotten for decades before being rediscovered.
