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Buy Museum Art Reproductions The isle of the dead (Version 3), 1883 by Arnold Bocklin (1827-1901, Switzerland) | ArtsDot.com

The isle of the dead (Version 3)

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Isle of the Dead (German: Die Toteninsel) is the best-known painting of Swiss Symbolist artist Arnold Böcklin (1827–1901). Prints were very popular in central Europe in the early 20th century—Vladimir Nabokov observed in his novel Despair that they could be "found in every Berlin home". Böcklin produced several different versions of the mysterious painting between 1880 and 1886. The third version was painted in 1883 for Böcklin’s dealer Fritz Gurlitt. Beginning with this version, one of the burial chambers in the rocks on the right bears Böcklin's own initials: "A.B.". (In 1933, this version was put up for sale and a noted Böcklin admirer, Adolf Hitler, acquired it. He hung it first at the Berghof in Obersalzberg and, then after 1940, in the New Reich Chancellery in Berlin. It is now at the Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin.)
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Arnold Bocklin

Early Life and Training

Arnold Böcklin, a Swiss symbolist painter, was born on October 16, 1827, in Basel, Switzerland. His father, Christian Frederick Böcklin, descended from an old family of Schaffhausen and engaged in the silk trade. Arnold's mother, Ursula Lippe, was a native of the same city. He studied at the Düsseldorf academy under Schirmer, becoming a friend of Anselm Feuerbach. Böcklin is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting.

Artistic Career and Symbolism

Böcklin's artistic journey took him to various cities, including Paris, where he worked at the Louvre, and Rome, where he was influenced by its sights. His work often featured allegorical and mythological figures in settings involving classical architecture, exploring themes of death and mortality.

Legacy and Influence

Böcklin is best known for his five versions of The Isle of the Dead (1880-1886), which evoked the English Cemetery in Florence, where his daughter was buried. His work influenced younger artists like Hans Thoma and inspired several late-Romantic composers.
  • Clement Greenberg described Böcklin's work as "one of the most consummate expressions" of its time.
  • Böcklin's style overlapped with the Pre-Raphaelites, emphasizing the world of dreams and mysticism.

Museums and Collections

Böcklin's work can be found in various museums, including: Explore more of Böcklin's work and the Symbolist movement on WahooArt:

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