Artwork
Der Abschied
Der Abschied is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Emil Strecker. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Emil Strecker’s 1896 oil on canvas, titled Der Abschied, belongs to the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum. The work presents an interior scene illuminated by a strong contrast of light and shadow, drawing focus to a solitary monk in a dark habit who holds a rosary, while domestic figures occupy the background.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a monk, is positioned prominently, his attire and rosary indicating a devotional setting. A cross on the wall reinforces the religious atmosphere. Adjacent to him, a woman sweeps the stone floor and a man stands nearby, introducing a mundane, everyday dimension that juxtaposes sacred contemplation with ordinary labor.
Technique & Style
Strecker employs chiaroscuro to heighten the visual impact, using stark light to delineate the monk and religious symbols against a dimly lit interior. The texture of the stone floor and the exposed wooden beams of the ceiling are rendered with careful brushwork, emphasizing materiality within the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1896, Der Abschied entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. The painting’s acquisition reflects the museum’s broader 19th‑century focus on Austrian artists and their contributions to genre and religious painting.
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Artist & collection
The Sacristy
Una lectura interesante
The Settlement
Das Innere einer italienischen Kirche
Prayer for the Deceased
¡Siempre incompleta la dicha!
Before Blessing at the Church of Hoogstraten
Visión de San Francisco de Asís
The madness of Joanna of Castile
Exorcism of Joanna of Castile
A Woman's Solemn Churching after Childbirth
Prayer for the Deceased