The landscape paintings of Friedrich with their vibrant colours, his enigmatic rendering of light, and his depiction of vast horizons have had an enduring influence on our view of nature. They derive their remarkable luminosity from a subtle transparency in the application of paint and its fascinating nuances. In the Albertinum, his works are juxtaposed with important landscape paintings from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden. These landscapes by the great masters – Jakob Ruisdael, Salvatore Rosa, and Claude Lorrain – were already among the gallery's most acclaimed masterpieces during Friedrich's lifetime. In addition, the exhibition also sheds light on Friedrich's networks and shows works by his friends and contemporaries.

The Kupferstich-Kabinett in Dresden’s Residenzschloss provides a close-up view of Friedrich’s drawings. The artist drew constantly during his travels in Saxon Switzerland, in the Riesengebirge, and during visits to his hometown of Greifswald and the island of Rügen. Above all, his drawings reflect the concentration and dedication with which Friedrich studied nature. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the full range and diversity of the painter’s drawings. One of the highlights is the recently acquired Karlsruhe sketchbook with studies from the Elbe valley near Dresden, which Friedrich used for major works such as “The Large Enclosure”. 

Using coins, paper money, medals, and coin hoards as well as archival documents, price and wage tables and objects for storing money, the Coin Cabinet looks at the Dresden painter in his time.