Artwork
At the Tanner. Night Piece
At the Tanner. Night Piece is an oil painting by Johann Kölla. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Johann Kölla’s oil painting At the Tanner. Night Piece, dated around 1769, is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents a dimly lit interior where a small group of figures congregates around a solitary candle on a table, their faces and garments illuminated by the flickering flame.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of quiet activity within a tavern or workshop, suggested by the period clothing of the participants. Their attentive posture and the central candle imply a shared task or conversation, inviting viewers to contemplate the intimacy of communal gatherings in low‑light settings.
Technique & Style
Kölla employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting the deep shadows of the surrounding room with the warm, golden glow of the candle. This handling of light creates a three‑dimensional sense of volume and heightens the atmospheric tension, while the loose brushwork conveys the texture of fabrics and the softness of the illuminated surfaces.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1760s, At the Tanner. Night Piece entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. The painting exemplifies Kölla’s late‑Baroque sensibility and contributes to the museum’s representation of 18th‑century German genre painting.
Artist & collection
