Choppy sea 1909

Curator: What strikes me immediately about Ulrich Hübner’s 1909 watercolor, “Choppy Sea,” housed here at the Städel Museum, is its sense of breezy immediacy. The texture of the water, particularly, makes me want to know more about the pigments used. Editor: For me, it's the almost dreamlike state it evokes, the light refracting off the waves. The sailboat becomes almost ethereal, hinting at a symbolic journey. There’s something universally human in that depiction. Curator: Absolutely, the color choices feel almost predetermined by the light conditions—the materials would have to allow for capturing such fleeting moments of shimmering water in the open air. I suspect he had a preference for quickly drying pigments. Plein-air work demands efficient tools. Editor: Thinking about the cultural moment, German Modernism was very concerned with capturing ephemeral experiences. Do you think that comes into play here, trying to find the spiritual in everyday scenes, rather than religious ones? The sailboats read like archetypal symbols of human navigation across life's sea. Curator: No doubt! Considering the social context, the rising popularity of leisure sailing likely influenced his choice of subject matter. Watercolor on paper would have been a relatively accessible and affordable medium, suggesting a growing market for art among the middle class. Editor: That’s so interesting. Looking at those waves now, their dynamism reminds me of more tumultuous concepts too – maybe societal anxieties during the early 20th century finding release on the water, depicted with a freedom emblematic of impressionistic landscapes. Curator: Yes! There's a definite sense of freedom and immediacy achieved through those flowing lines, achieved through layering diluted watercolor on fibrous paper – the interaction of those materials becomes part of the art's emotive qualities! Editor: Examining “Choppy Sea” makes us consider the intersections of individual intention, broader symbolism, the practical nature of artistic materials, and societal change. All things interconnected, as with the painted sea and sky. Curator: Exactly. Considering materiality opens up avenues to understanding cultural values, and for me it creates a much richer connection to both artist and artwork!