In the landscapes of the German romanticist Caspar David Friedrich, realistically painted nature is always immeasurably more than just a depiction of this or that landscape. It is perceived by the artist as a wonderful manifestation of the mystery of the universe. Friedrich’s landscapes reflect a mystical understanding of reality. Nature is a symbol of human life and death.

This canvas is a picturesque elegy of the master, reflecting on the transience of time and the brevity of life. Everything here is symbolic and points to dying. An old drying tree with broken, gnarled and leafless branches is a symbol of a stopped life; circling crows – usually flying over carrion; an ancient burial mound – someone’s last refuge on the seashore.