Inspirational landscapes
Germany's natural scenery has been a muse for artists again and again over the years, from Rügen's jagged cliffs in the north, to the colorful Alpine glow of the south.
Island paradise
Germany's largest island, Rügen, is located on the Baltic Sea in the northeastern corner of the country. It's part of the Jasmund National Park, which was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 2011.
Sublime nature
The steep coastline inspired Caspar David Friedrich to paint "Chalk Cliffs on Rügen" in 1818, which is now considered to be one of the most significant works of the German Romantic period. As with many of his contemporaries, nature was both a place of repose and of artistic stimulation for Friedrich.
Elbe Sandstone Mountains
The mountain range southeast of Dresden is considered a symbol of the Romantic era. The portion of the mountain range that lies within the German borders is called Saxon Switzerland. The natural diversity of the landscape is particularly impressive, with its alternating canyons, mesas and cliffs.
Place of refuge
In 1786, Swiss artist Adrian Zingg immortalized this distinctive rock formation found among the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in his painting "The Cowshed in Saxon Switzerland." Legend has it that local residents survived the Thirty Years War by hiding in the cowshed.
Industrial revolution
At the beginning of the 19th century, Germany entered a period of industrialization. Railroad tracks were laid, and factory smoke stacks began dotting the horizon. Artists responded to the changes they were witnessing in their work.
Bavaria's Murnau
Mountains, bogs and lakes that take on a different teint during each season. All these elements form the region surrounding Murnau in southern-most Germany. In 1908, Wassily Kandinsky and his partner Gabriele Münter discovered this natural treasure trove.
Creative retreat
Until World War I broke out in 1914, Kandinsky and Münter spent their summers in this cottage. Together with other artists, they developed the idea for the Blue Rider artists' collective. The house, where Gabriele Münter lived after the war, was turned into a museum in 1999.
Time out
Even today, the area surrounding the Lake Wannsee in Berlin is a favorite destination for city-dwellers seeking quiet relaxation. Painter Max Liebermann had a villa with a lake view built here in 1909.