Nach Dem Friedensschluss 1809 1902

Albin Egger-Lienz created this monumental painting, 'After the Peace Treaty 1809', using oil on canvas. It’s mostly done in dark greys and browns, save for the ghostly light of the moon and a warm glow radiating from the window of a building. I get a sense of the artist’s presence, imagining him wrestling with the dark hues to construct this after-dark image. It's like he’s trying to paint a feeling as much as a scene, something heavy and oppressive that lingers in the air. You can feel it in the way the figures lean forward, burdened not just by age, but also the weight of history. And look at that little window, just barely visible. It's radiating such a warm, honeyed light, like a tiny beacon of hope trying to pierce through the gloom. It reminds me that even in the darkest of times, there's always a glimmer of something better on the horizon. And for me, that's what makes painting so great - the way it allows us to wrestle with these complex emotions.