Solitude

Meticulously depicted natural details and a mythical figure standing within them.

At first glance, it's a nostalgic and serene landscape, reminiscent of Arcadia (an ideal realm).

However, behind this idyllic work lies the painter's profound solitude in the face of reality and a strong yearning for 'another world' (a counter-world).

From the late 19th to the early 20th century, the painter Thoma was struck by a series of tragedies, losing one beloved person after another.

In 1897, he lost his mother, and the following year, a close friend who was like a brother to him. Then, in 1901, he lost his beloved wife, Cella, to a sudden illness.

Unable to bear the pain of successive losses, he sought refuge solely in his work and the world of creation, as if to fill his lonely days.

The landscapes he painted amidst his profound sorrow, far from being dark and somber, are surprisingly tranquil and filled with a deep love for primeval nature.

Perhaps what saved him from the depths of despair was the act of detaching himself from the hardships of reality and creating a beautiful, simple 'other world' on canvas.