Artwork
A Young Officer Saying Farewell to His Family
A Young Officer Saying Farewell to His Family is a gouache drawing by the Romanticist artist Carl Schindler. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Young Officer Saying Farewell to His Family is a 1841 watercolor and gouache drawing on wove paper, created by Austrian artist Carl Schindler. The work captures a poignant domestic scene of a military farewell.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a young officer bidding a quiet goodbye to his family in a cozy, intimate setting. The scene reflects the Biedermeier period's emphasis on family, sentimentality, and the personal cost of military life.
Technique & Style
Schindler employed watercolor and gouache over graphite, with partial varnishing. Soft colors and loose brushstrokes characterize the piece, conveying a warm, lived-in atmosphere. The technique contributes to the work's emotional intimacy.
History & Provenance
Created early in Schindler's brief career, the drawing is typical of his military-themed works, earning him the nickname 'Soldaten-Schindler'. Schindler died in 1842 at the age of 20.
Context
Produced during the Biedermeier period, the work aligns with the era's cultural values of domesticity and emotional restraint. It also touches on the common experience of military separation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carl Vincenz Schindler (23 October 1821 in Vienna – 22 August 1842 in Laab im Walde) was an Austrian military painter in the Biedermeier style. He was sometimes referred to as "Soldaten-Schindler" (Soldier Schindler).
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