A Day in Carl Spitzweg’s Humorous Biedermeier World

As anyone who’s ever lived in a small town will tell you – there’s no avoiding your neighbors there. Or their curiosity.

The smaller the town, the more things people know about each other.

As annoying as that can be, there was one German painter who saw the humorous side of this situation.

Carl Spitzweg was born in 1808 in Bavaria. Although Romanticism was prevalent in the art of Germany at the beginning of the 19^th century, the characters in Spitzweg’s paintings rarely show signs of the intense internal turmoil habitual for Romanticism. Stylistically, they belong to the Biedermeier – a style often dismissed as decorative and “cozy”.  

The people in Spitzweg’s world are living small, cozy lives perhaps, but they do have a bright individuality. The painter chose to show them going about their daily lives with dignity and worth, but also quite a bit of eccentric humor.

The Serenade. Spitzweg

The characters in his genre scenes are the comical, toned-down counterparts of the Romantic protagonists, but the subjects revolve around a lot of the same themes, like:

• individualism
• romance
• and even on occasion undertones of the isolation typical for the Romantic hero

This, I guess, just shows how varied Romanticism is – it’s not all broody ravens and Byronic heroes on cliffs.

NOTE: Some of the towns in Spitzweg’s paintings were probably inspired by Rothenburg – a charming fairy-tale like town in Bavaria, Germany. The artist lived there for a while.

So, let’s see what a standard day in Spitzweg’s neat little Biedermeier town looks like:

The Postman. Spitzweg

As the day starts, citizens start receiving their letters. This postman has a number of eager young ladies waiting for him to decipher the name and address on the envelope he’s holding. The fact that it’s probably a love letter is established by the couple of cooing doves on top of the green roof of the protruding balcony.

But take a look at the postman himself. He’s a young man, but he’s leaning on a crutch. This possibly places him as a wounded ex-soldier back from one of the numerous wars and skirmishes that Germany was involved in during the 19^th century.

The perspective of the steep stairs and narrow street with the steeple in its depths invites you to step into the picture. It also makes you wonder how the lame postman will manage to deliver all the letters.

The Attic. 1840s. Spitzweg

Spitzweg merges architectural elements, little details of everyday life such as birdcages and flowerpots, and people into one intriguing whole. One can’t help but wonder about the relationships and life stories unfolding on his canvases.

The Attic. 1840s. detail. Spitzweg

Here’s a flower-growing gentleman who seems to be admiring his neighbor as he waters his geraniums. She returns his gaze. Her window also sports a few pots of flowers. Perhaps they have found kindred spirits in each other?

Morning windows. Carl Spitzweg

A small town forces people into close neighborly relationships. How do you shield the privacy of your life from people who can practically see into your rooms? Yet in Spitzweg’s paintings it doesn’t look as hideous as such close proximity to your neighbors may sound. All of the windows have some manner of adornment – flowers in pots, fresco painted walls, and bright shutters. The ladies looking out of the windows look quite happy to have a chat with their neighbors.

The girl in the turret seems to have all the luck. She’s got a canary and geraniums to cheer her while she works, and there’s a lovely white cat peeking out of the window of the next-door room.  

The Flower seller. Spitzweg

For people who haven’t yet managed to grow a windowsill garden, don’t worry. There are flower sellers who will bring their merchandise right under your window. The lady in the window looks as if she’s being interrupted at her prayers. There’s a shoemaker’s sign on the house she lives in, so she’s possibly the shoemaker’s wife or widow (judging by her darker clothes and somber white mobcap).

Her house seems a little forlorn – no flowers, no birds, and even no cat. Perhaps she’ll agree to buy the lovely rose bushes the flower merchant is offering her. 

The Everlasting Bridegroom. 1858-1860. Spitzweg

Allegedly based on a real scene that Spitzweg had witnessed when travelling in Bern, this curious little painting shows a proposal. The gentleman in the yellow coat is presenting flowers to a young girl. She seems to have been on her way to the fountain seen in the background judging by the two water jars next to her. The gentleman’s proposal is witnessed by numerous curious neighbors, some even leaning over their windowsills to catch every word.  

The Everlasting Bridegroom. detail. Spitzweg

In spite of his formal bow and dandified outfit, something strikes a false cord. The young man has a morning newspaper carelessly tucked into the pocket of his modish coat as if his proposal is a casual affair. His sleeves are too short, and the bouquet he is presenting to the girl looks like a dried flower arrangement.

Might this hint at the fact that she’s not the first lady he’s been proposing to? Or is his ill-fitting suit an indication that he’s not who he wants to appear?

There’s also a more favorable interpretation. The flowers look like strawflowers, also called helichrysum or everlasting. So perhaps he’s not trying to save money on the bouquet, but rather hinting that his love is faithful and everlasting.

Ah, things are rarely simple in love. 

The Intercepted Letter. 1860s. Spitzweg

Things definitely aren’t simple for this student trying to steal a note to his downstairs neighbor. She’s sewing with an aunt or governess, and unfortunately doesn’t see the envelope. Her companion has seen the letter and seems shocked by such impropriety. As in “The Postman”, the fact that it’s a mutual love is symbolized by the two snuggling doves on the rooftop. 

The Eye of the Law (Justitia), 1857. Carl Spitzweg

As the evening falls over the town, order must be maintained. This corner of the town holds one of its statues – Lady Justice. She’s easily recognizable by the sword she holds in her right hand, the scales in her left hand, and the scarf over her eyes (indicating that she’s blind to rank and privilege, among other things).

But Lady Justice is not alone in her efforts of upholding order. If you look right around the corner, there’s a dedicated supporter of justice lurking in the shadows. Lady Justice may be blind, but she’s got volunteer eyes a plenty.

The Sleeping Night Watchman. 1875. Spitzweg

This peaceful, sleepy town has lulled the night watchman to sleep. There’s a gurgling fountain nearby, hardly a light in any of the windows, and only the ever-watchful stars shine on. It’s probably a summer night, too. No wonder that the man has fallen asleep on duty. 

Two Bosom Buddies. Carl Spitzweg

These two look like they’ve certainly had a good time. The peaceful town looks like it’s close to dawn. Walking slowly, their hands are raised, as if they’re either balancing themselves or moving their hands to a song they’re singing. There’s a light in one of the windows, so possibly the lads have been noisy and woke someone from their slumbers. No one to stop them, since as we’ve seen the night watchman is fast asleep.