these exceptional designs, later selected by Goethe (1749-1832) for the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach but also for its collection, they offer a spectacular panorama of the golden age of Germanic drawing of about 1780-1850. In the late XNUMXth century, the city of Weimar, seat of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar, played a prominent role as the intellectual center of Germany. As a central figure in this enlightened court, Goethe accumulates many responsibilities in matters of cultural policy and writes most of his works there. An expert collector and draftsman, he chose very beautiful sheets for the Grand Duke that represent all aspects of German design.
At that time, literature, visual arts and music are undergoing profound transformations that disrupt their rules and their practice. If the romantic movement never has a leader and if there is a great disparity of styles, the artists accept to privilege the expression of the passions and the subjectivity of their vision. This period saw the flowering of a certain genius in drawing among a large number of German artists, which stood out as the most innovative expression of creation of the time.
Organized into seven sections, the itinerary of the exhibition follows a chronological and aesthetic thread. In addition to the iconic figures of Caspar Friedrich, Runge Philipp and Johann Fuseli, visitors can discover thirty-five essential artists in the history of drawing: Tischbein, Carstens, Fohr, Horny, von Schadow, Schinkel, von Schwind, Richter or the Nazarenes, Overbeck and Schnorr von Carolsfeld, who were guided by Christian spirituality and national feeling.
Portraits and genre scenes, representations of ruined castles, compositions inspired by biblical and medieval legends, but above all landscapes, covered in all technical aspects in a style that combines idealism and naturalism, thus providing the opportunity to illustrate the inner life, flamboyant intimate and romantic scenes, and ultimately produce a sublime thrill to the viewer.
Cover image – Franz Kobell, Paysage avec caves, tombs and ruins au clair de lune (détail), vers 1787
© Klassik Stiftung Weimar
