DISCOVERART

Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Gothic Church Behind an Oak Grove with Tombs

1810
Lithograph in black ink with touches of opaque white watercolor on brown wove paper
48.2 × 34.2 cm (19 × 13.5 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Architect, painter, and printmaker Karl Friedrich Schinkel understood Gothic architecture as a fusion between universal Christianity and German genius. The combination here of vernacular Gothic architecture and a grand oak tree symbolizing Teutonic strength—as well as the medium of lithography itself, which had recently been invented in Munich by Alois Senefelder—infuses the print with a particularly nationalistic significance. This patriotism is all the more pointed given Germany’s military defeat at the hands of Napoleon’s army in 1806 and the subsequent occupation of Schinkel’s home of Berlin by French troops.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Elevation and Plan of the Façade of a BuildingElevation and Plan of the Façade of a BuildingGothic Cathedral Behind a Pond with SwansGothic Cathedral Behind a Pond with SwansDas Schloss Prediama in Crein XII Stund: von TriestDas Schloss Prediama in Crein XII Stund: von TriestGothic Church among OaksGothic Church among OaksPredjama Castle in Krein, Twelve Hours from TriestePredjama Castle in Krein, Twelve Hours from TriesteGothic Church Hidden by a TreeGothic Church Hidden by a TreeWoodland Path with a CoachWoodland Path with a CoachInterior of St. Stephen's Cathedral in ViennaInterior of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna

More like this

Gothic Church among OaksKarl Friedrich Schinkel (German, 1781–1841) — Gothic Church View of City from Road on HillJan Looten — View of City from Road on HillKensington GardensFrancis Seymour Haden (British, 1818–1910) — Kensington GardView of the West Facade of Dunkeld CathedralCarl Gustav Carus — View of the West Facade of Dunkeld CatheLandscape with a Tree in front of a VillaEduard Gaertner — Landscape with a Tree in front of a VillaLandscape and Bridge with Three FiguresCarl Wilhelm I Kolbe (German, 1757–1835) — Landscape and BriRuin of Godesberg with the so-called High Cross of the RhineDomenico Quaglio — Ruin of Godesberg with the so-called HighKensington Gardens, No. I (small plate)Francis Seymour Haden — Kensington Gardens, No. I (small plaAbele and Oak, from The Park and the ForestJames Duffield Harding — Abele and Oak, from The Park and thIn the WoodsAdolphe Théodore Jules Martial Potémont (French, 1828–1883) Berry Pomeroy Castle, plate 58 from Liber StudiorumJoseph Mallord William Turner — Berry Pomeroy Castle, plate Kiderich Church in RheingauDomenico Quaglio — Kiderich Church in Rheingau