Artwork
Vom Tode I (Opus II, 1889) No. 7
Vom Tode I (Opus II, 1889) No. 7 is a print by the Impressionist artist Max Klinger. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1889, *Vom Tode I (Opus II) No.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1889, *Vom Tode I (Opus II) No. 7* is a print by German artist Max Klinger. The image presents a bleak tableau in which a horse lies dead on the ground and its carriage has tipped over, surrounded by a muted landscape of hills and trees. Dark tonalities dominate the composition, reinforcing a somber atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the aftermath of a fatal accident, with the lifeless horse and shattered carriage serving as symbols of mortality and loss. The desolate setting and the stark contrast between the ruined vehicle and the natural background suggest a contemplation of death’s intrusion into everyday life, a theme recurrent in Symbolist art.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the piece employs strong chiaroscuro and a limited palette of deep hues to heighten drama. While Klinger’s graphic practice is rooted in Symbolism, the handling of light and the fleeting quality of the scene recall Impressionist concerns with momentary perception, though the overall effect remains more narrative than purely visual.
History & Provenance
Max Klinger, active in painting, sculpture, and printmaking, produced this work as part of his broader engagement with Symbolist motifs and the emerging Jugendstil movement. The print is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it forms part of the institution’s holdings of late‑19th‑century European graphic art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Klinger (18 February 1857 – 5 July 1920) was a German artist who produced significant work in painting, sculpture, prints and graphics, as well as writing a treatise articulating his ideas on art and the role of…
Our Hill from Dumstown, Ohio
A Roadside in Spain
Horse at Midday (Cavallo a meriggio)
Herding the Cows at Dusk (Vachère le soir)
Herd of Pigs Leaving a Forest
The Sand Team
Combat contre la Neige, Quai aux Fleurs
a) On Maneuvers (recto); b) On Maneuvers (verso) (Alle Manovre)
The Ox Cart (Le char a boeufs)
The Departure of Jacob to Egypt
The Ford
Bullfights: Dreadful Events in the Front Rows of the Ring at Madrid and Death of the Mayor of Torrejon