Joseph Leo Koerner Livres

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) is heralded as the greatest painter of the Romantic movement in Germany, and Europe's first truly modern artist. His mysterious and melancholy landscapes, often peopled with lonely wanderers, are experiments in a radically subjective artistic perspective--one in which, as Freidrich wrote, the painter depicts not "what he sees before him, but what he sees within him." This vulnerability of the individual when confronted with nature became one of the key tenets of the Romantic aesthetic. Now available in a compact, accessible format, this beautifully illustrated book is the most comprehensive account ever published in English of one of the most fascinating and influential nineteenth-century painters. "This is a model of interpretative art history, taking in a good deal of German Romantic philosophy, but founded always on the immediate experience of the picture. . . . It is rare to find a scholar so obviously in sympathy with his subject."--"Independent"

The book offers a fresh perspective on the works of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel, highlighting the paradoxical relationship between their art. Bosch's fantastical and often grotesque imagery contrasts sharply with Bruegel's realistic portrayals of peasant life, yet both artists explore the theme of everyday existence intertwined with a metaphysical conflict. Koerner examines how Bosch's depictions serve as a warning against the allure of the mundane, while Bruegel reveals the constructed nature of such fears, ultimately suggesting that art itself can embody an adversarial force.

Exploring the work of three significant artists from various historical periods, this study delves into how their creations reflect and respond to the perilous contexts of their times. It offers a profound insight into the impact of art as a means of expression and resistance in challenging environments, highlighting the enduring relevance of visual imagery in shaping cultural narratives during crises.

'A New History of German Literature' offers some 200 essays on events in German literary history.

Welche Rolle hat die Reformation für die Kunst gespielt, wie hat sie das christliche Bild verändert? Joseph Leo Koerner, einer der weltweit besten Kenner der Kunst der Lutherzeit, legt mit diesem Buch eine umfassende und faszinierende Studie zur Entwicklung der christlichen Kunst nach dem Bildersturm vor. Die Ereignisse einer Zeit, in der die Dominanz des Wortes gegenüber dem Bild propagiert wurde, in der man Bilder als Idole und Fetische verachtete und vernichtete, hatten gravierende Auswirkungen auf die bildende Kunst. Im Zentrum des Buches steht Cranachs „Reformationsaltar“ in der Stadtkirche zu Wittenberg – der Ort, an dem die protestantische Bilderzerstörung ihren Ausgang nahm. Cranachs Bild entstand als Reaktion auf diese umwälzenden historischen Ereignisse, die auch in der Kunstgeschichte einen Wendepunkt markieren. Wie kann man einen verborgenen Gott sichtbar darstellen? Die Antworten, die Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen auf diese zentrale, bildkritische Frage fanden, sind bis in die heutige Zeit wirksam.