Who painted I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia)?

I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia) was painted by Adrian Zingg in 1790.

Where can I see I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia)?

I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia)?

I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia)

Adrian Zingg , 1790

I was also in Arcadia (Kai ego en Arkadia) is a print by the Romanticist artist Adrian Zingg. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Adrian Zingg’s print *I was also in Arcadia* presents a tranquil forest clearing where two figures in period attire converse beneath towering trees. Executed in the early 19th‑century German Romantic idiom, the work merges precise line etching with subtle brown washes, creating a scene that balances detailed observation with an idealised, contemplative mood.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a quiet grove, a setting traditionally associated with the Arcadian ideal of harmonious nature. The two men, rendered in modest dress, appear absorbed in dialogue, embodying the Romantic fascination with reflective individuals placed within an unspoiled landscape that suggests both nostalgia and philosophical introspection.

Technique & Style

Zingg first incised the image with fine lines, then applied delicate brown tonal washes that deepen shadows and lend warmth to the foliage. The hand‑colouring, likely performed by members of his workshop, follows the artist’s original drawing, enhancing the soft transitions reminiscent of sfumato while preserving the crispness of the etched outlines.

History & Provenance

A Swiss etcher who spent most of his career in Germany, Zingg was regarded as a leading landscape specialist of his generation. The print was produced from one of his preparatory drawings, with Zingg responsible for the etching and his assistants completing the coloration, a collaborative practice common in his workshop.

Context

The work reflects the broader German Romantic movement’s preoccupation with nature as a source of spiritual renewal. By situating human figures within an idealised woodland, Zingg aligns with contemporary literary and artistic notions of Arcadia, echoing the period’s yearning for a simpler, purer existence beyond industrial modernity.