Rotkäppchen 1908

Julius Sergius Klever painted this woodland scene with oils, and I can just imagine him, brush in hand, lost in the textures of the forest, feeling the weight of the trees and the damp earth underfoot. The canvas is dominated by greens and browns, but it’s the way Klever handles the light that really grabs me. Look at how the light filters through the canopy, dappling the forest floor. The paint isn’t too thick, but there's enough to create a sense of depth and atmosphere, pulling you into the scene. I can almost smell the pine needles and feel the cool air on my skin. And then there's the figure of Little Red Riding Hood herself, a tiny splash of color in the distance, almost an afterthought. Klever is in conversation with all the other landscape painters that have come before him, and he is teaching us to notice the quiet beauty of the natural world. I find that incredibly moving.