Experience 250 years of Caspar David Friedrich

Anniversary year in Greifswald

Author: Jennifer Latuperisa-Andresen
Published: October 1, 2024

250 years of Caspar David Friedrich - a reason for Greifswald to celebrate this anniversary with many events., © TMV/Gross

Author: Jennifer Latuperisa-Andresen
Published: October 1, 2024

Greifswald is celebrating the Caspar David Friedrich anniversary this year. The city's most famous son and one of Germany's most important painters was born in the university and Hanseatic city 250 years ago. Here is an insight from A to Z into why it is worth visiting Greifswald this year.

A for exhibitions

The exhibitions and art are just as varied as the program of events. These range from famous birthday gifts such as the „Chalk Cliffs on Rügen“ (Pomeranian State Museum) üto the paths that the paintings have taken from the painter's easel to the museums (Caspar David Friedrich Centre) to Greifswald friends and acquaintances (St. Spiritus Cultural Centre).

Exhibitions

around Caspar-David-Friedrich

© NZK

Special exhibition "From the Königsweg to the Skywalk - a building history"

Read more: "Special exhibition "From the Königsweg to the Skywalk - a building history""
© © Kristin Flake

Romanticism today?

Read more: "Romanticism today?"
© Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Museum

Theme show: Visual axes: E.M. Arndt and C.D. Friedrich

Read more: "Theme show: Visual axes: E.M. Arndt and C.D. Friedrich"
© EMAM/kvw

Visual axes: E.M. Arndt and C.D. Friedrich

Read more: "Visual axes: E.M. Arndt and C.D. Friedrich"
© Hanomag Tours

Hanomag Safari: In the footsteps of Caspar David Friedrich

Read more: "Hanomag Safari: In the footsteps of Caspar David Friedrich"
© © Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2023

Candle workshop

Read more: "Candle workshop"
© Caspar-David-Friedrich-Zentrum

Candle workshop

Read more: "Candle workshop"
© Juliane Eirich

Looking over the artist's shoulder - research into Caspar David Friedrich's painting technique

Read more: "Looking over the artist's shoulder - research into Caspar David Friedrich's painting technique"
© © Hamburger Kunsthalle/bpk, Foto: Elke Walford

Caspar David Friedrich. Hometown

Read more: "Caspar David Friedrich. Hometown"
© Silke Winkler

Louise

Read more: "Louise"
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B for picture path

Walking in the footsteps of Friedrich is child's play in Greifswald. Because the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg leads you along 15 stations along his important points in his life. Again and again, today's view can be compared with what Friedrich saw in his time and immortalized in his paintings.

C for Caspar David Friedrich Center

The museum is located in Friedrich's birthplace in the heart of the old town and is dedicated to the life and work of the artist. Among other things, the special exhibition „The Hidden Life of the Paintings“ is shown here. 

If you like, you should definitely take a look in the historic cellar vault. Here you can gain an authentic insight into Friedrich's life and his father's workshop, where soaps and candles were made.

D like cathedral

The Gothic St. Nikolai Cathedral, where Caspar David Friedrich was baptized, stands directly opposite his birthplace and is closely associated with the Friedrich family. This is another reason why many high-class anniversary events are held here.

The renowned contemporary artist Ólafur Elíasson will redesign the east window group, bathing the church in an impressive light reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich's color spectrum. This artistic interpretation will undoubtedly help to honor Friedrich's legacy and at the same time cast the cathedral in a contemporary light.

E for opening

On January 20, 2024, the festive year was ceremoniously opened in Friedrich's baptismal church, St. Nikolai Cathedral. The patron Claudia Roth held a welcoming speech for everyone.

The self-confessed Friedrich fan and art historian Florian Illies gave a speech and the event was accompanied musically by the internationally renowned electro musician and Greifswald native Christian Löffler.

F for color virtuoso

The coloring of Caspar David Friedrich testified to a unique sensitivity and a deep understanding of nature. Just how intense this is can be admired in the work »Neubrandenburg« in the Pomeranian State Museum. Here, the golden autumn sky shines dynamically and enchants for a long time.

If you think clouds are white and the sky is blue, you should urgently broaden your horizons and take a closer look at Friedrich's color virtuosity in his depictions of sky and cloud scenarios.

G for birthday party

On September 5, Greifswald's market square will become the stage for an unparalleled birthday party. Under the motto »Kuchen für Caspar«, guests can expect a varied program of theater, music and, of course, a piece of birthday cake.

H like hometown

Greifswald is not only Friedrich's hometown, but also the place where his artistic talent was recognized early on. Many of his motifs can be found here and will become event locations in the anniversary year - such as the harbor, the market square and the Eldena monastery ruins.

I for inspiration

With its cityscape and unmistakable landscapes, Greifswald was an important source of inspiration for Caspar David Friedrich throughout his life. He himself still inspires artists worldwide today.

J for anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich

2024 is a jam-packed year of celebrations in Greifswald. Exhibitions, sermons, concerts, readings, parties, salons – Caspar David Friedrich is celebrated in style. There is guaranteed to be something to suit every taste.

K as in child

Caspar David Friedrich was born on September 5, 1774 as the sixth of ten children at Lange Straße 57, today the front building of the Caspar David Friedrich Center. Not only here, but throughout the city, the anniversary has a variety of events in store for children, such as puppet theater, hands-on activities and much more.

L like figure of light

The radiance of Caspar David Friedrich extends far beyond his hometown of Greifswald and makes him a shining light in international art history. Even today, his works are an invaluable source of inspiration for artists such as Ólafur Elíasson, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Gerhard Richter.

M like Martin Kohlstedt

Martin Kohlstedt is an experience. Surprising, how inspiring. Daring, how delightful. He manages to interweave different worlds, electronic beats and classical piano to create a new work of art. Improvisation is an important tool for him. His performance at the Eldena ruins on August 31 will be a highlight.

N for North German romance

On a route covering a total of 54 kilometers, visitors to Western Pomerania can discover important stations of the early Romantic painters Friedrich, Klinkowström, Runge and the poet Karl Lappe. The route leads from the Eldena monastery ruins to the Rungehaus Museum in Wolgast.

© TMV/pocha.de

Romanticism bike tour in Vorpommern

  • Length: 293 km
  • Etappen: 7

Stages: 1 day From the Eldena monastery ruins to the Rungehaus in Wolgast - the "Route of North German Romanticism" combines the art and literature of Romanticism with today's nature experience along the coast of the Greifswald Bodden.

Read more: "Romanticism bike tour in Vorpommern"

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O as in original locations

In and around Greifswald there are numerous original locations that served Caspar David Friedrich as motifs for his works: from the ships in the harbor to the market square and the fishing village of Wiek.

Locations

from Caspar-David-Friedrich

To the map
© Gudrun Koch

Eldena monastery ruins

  • Freely accessible at any time
  • Wolgaster Landstraße, 17493 Greifswald

The monastery ruins and park are a popular excursion destination for Greifswald residents and their guests. The monastery ruins are also the starting and finishing point of the themed cycle path "Route of North German Romanticism", which traces the stations and lives of the North German Romantics of Western Pomerania.

Read more: "Eldena monastery ruins"
© Gudrun Koch

Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

Discover the almost authentic pictorial motifs of the artist born in Greifswald - Caspar David Friedrich. At vantage points, which Friedrich chose as motifs for his works and which are still preserved today, you can recreate the typical Friedrich mood.

Read more: "Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg"
© Sven Fischer

Greifswald Museum Harbour

  • Open today
  • Hafenstraße, 17489 Greifswald

Gaff ketch and schooner, seaquat and ramship, cruiser and kragejolle - about 45 old ships characterise the image of the museum harbour in Greifswald, which was founded in 1991 following the example of the museum harbours in Flensburg and Hamburg. With this, the Hanseatic townspeople reacted to the increased interest in historic ships and traditional seamanship.

Read more: "Greifswald Museum Harbour"
© Gudrun Koch

Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

  • Rathaus/Markt, 17489 Greifswald

Discover the almost authentic pictorial motifs of the artist born in Greifswald - Caspar David Friedrich. At vantage points, which Friedrich chose as motifs for his works and which are still preserved today, you can recreate the typical Friedrich mood.

Read more: "Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg"
© Gudrun Koch

Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald

  • Freely accessible at any time
  • Markt, 17489 Greifswald

The development of the town of Greifswald began with the founding of Hilda Monastery. The town was first mentioned in a document in 1248 and received its town charter in 1250. The market square is the heart of the historic old town. Caspar David Friedrich painted the market square with a view of the Ratsapotheke and part of the town hall as a watercolor - on display in the Pomeranian State Museum.

Read more: "Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald"
to the list

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P for Pomeranian State Museum

From March to December there will be a varied program here. Three consecutive special exhibitions will combine the museum's extensive collections with top-class loans.

A particular highlight will be the iconic painting »Chalk Cliffs on Rügen«. In addition to the encounter with the originals, visitors can expect an extensive and varied accompanying program.

Q for quistorp

Johann Gottfried Quistorp was Friedrich's drawing teacher in his early artistic years in Greifswald. He is considered his most important companion and pioneer. Friedrich's drawings from these lessons are still preserved today and can be admired in the special exhibition „Lifelines“ at the Pomeranian State Museum.

R for ruins of Eldena

Friedrich loved the monastery ruins on the outskirts of Greifswald and made them famous worldwide through his paintings. Friedrich documented the ruins in numerous drawings and sketches from various perspectives, which can be seen in the »Eldena Room« in the Caspar David Friedrich Center.

In 2024, picnics, concerts, theater and much more can be experienced here.

S as in salon series

Wanderlust, the weather on Friedrich's paintings and the women of his time– all this and more is on offer in the 24 salons in the tradition of the 19th century.
The events take place on a small scale – so you should be quick and secure a place here.

T for theater

Friedrich will be the central theme at Theater Vorpommern in the 2024/2025 season. The student theater is also showing a play, two Greifswald schools are planning a musical and a youth theater project and the puppet theater is also all about Caspar David Friedrich.

U like premiere

As part of this year's MV Festival, the world premiere of "The Arctic Ocean" will be presented in St. Nicolai Cathedral. Christian Jost, one of today's most respected composers, has written a piece especially for Friedrich's anniversary. The Zürcher Kammerorchester, star violinist Daniel Hope and the Signum Saxophone Quartet will perform. 

V for events 

Over 200 of these have something for everyone in the festival year. Concerts, exhibitions, hands-on activities, film screenings and theater - a varied potpourri for young and old alike.