Morning at the Tegernsee 1827

Wilhelm von Kobell painted ‘Morning at the Tegernsee’ with oil on canvas sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Kobell, born in Mannheim, Germany, served as a war artist, accompanying troops and producing battle scenes, so he understood the power dynamics of land and ownership. Here, he moves away from grand battle scenes and zooms in on a landscape that gives us a glimpse into everyday life in Bavaria. The figures, two women and a man, are dressed in traditional Tracht clothing. The man on horseback might represent a landowner, while the women on foot with a pail may be laborers. The idyllic scene, complete with grazing goats and horses, invites us to consider the relationship between humans and nature. The tranquil lake, the towering trees, and the distant mountains form a backdrop for this carefully staged scene. It's a romanticized view, but it prompts us to reflect on who gets to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and who is working within it.