Moonlight on the Coast

Norwegian painter Johan Christian Dahl, known for his romantic and patriotic landscapes, was highly influential in both Germany and his native Norway. Dahl initially trained as an artisan painter in his hometown of Bergen. From 1811 to 1817 he studied at the Copenhagen Academy in Denmark, then went to Dresden, Germany where he became a student and close friend of Caspar David Friedrich, a famed painter of romantic landscapes. After studying in Italy from 1820 to 1821, he returned to Dresden where he remained for the rest of his life. Careful attention to detail and the ability to capture light and atmosphere are typical of Dahl’s painting. This scene, dramatically lit by the full moon peeking through the clouds, is characteristic of his romantic style. An inscription on the back of the painting identifies the scene as the Norwegian coastline between the cities of Larvik and Fredrikstad. In depicting night fishermen at work in the bay, Dahl celebrates the heritage and industry of these communities.