Flying Kites
1880
Carl Spitzweg, a former pharmacist who only became a full-time artist after inheriting money, usually painted funny, eccentric characters. Here, he trades his usual satire for pure, vertical serenity in a composition dominated by a massive, pale blue sky. The vastness makes the tiny kite and the small figures below look delightfully insignificant, emphasizing the grandeur of nature typical of the Romantic movement. Down in the meadow, a group of children and adults enjoy a simple afternoon of kite flying, with a quiet town and church spire resting on the distant horizon. It’s a peaceful snapshot from 1880 where the biggest worry is keeping a string taut.
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