Artwork
Der Alte unterm Fenster
Der Alte unterm Fenster is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Heinrich Corrodi. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Heinrich Corrodi’s oil work, dated 1804, presents a solitary figure observed through a window frame. The composition centers on a white‑haired man in a dark coat, his head and shoulders visible against a muted backdrop, conveying a restrained, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears engaged in artistic activity: a paintbrush rests on a cloth or paper, accompanied by a small dark bottle of pigment on the sill. This inclusion hints at the figure’s identity as an artist or craftsman, emphasizing themes of creation and introspection.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, Corrodi employs a limited palette of deep shadows and subdued tones, allowing the illuminated window frame to define the spatial boundary. The brushwork is precise in the details of the hair and clothing, while broader strokes render the surrounding darkness.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in the early nineteenth century, the painting has been part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of Swiss art from the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Daniel Kervégan, Mayor of Nantes
"Old Pat," The Independent Beggar
Félix Máximo López, First Organist of the Royal Chapel
Old man in a window
Saint Andrzej Żurawek
Portrait of an old man
Old man leaning on a balustrade
The Old Peasant Girard
Pieter Barbiers II, Painter
Portrait of Ambroży Mieroszewski
The Miserly Old Woman
Portret de bărbat