Calm Excursion

Art Historical Context

**Calm Excursion** is a delicate etching created by Hans Thoma in 1919, part of the National Gallery of Art's Rosen Collection in the Prints department (CG-E). Thoma, a prominent German artist (1839–1924), was renowned for his lyrical landscapes and mythological scenes, blending Romanticism's reverence for nature with Symbolist undertones of mysticism and emotion. This late-career work captures a serene moment, evoking tranquility amid the post-World War I era, when Europe sought solace in art's quiet beauty. Etching, Thoma's favored medium here, allowed for intricate line work and tonal subtlety—acid biting into a copper plate to create fine details impossible in painting. His prints often drew from the Black Forest's enchanted woods, infusing everyday excursions with poetic depth. Produced just five years before his death, *Calm Excursion* reflects Thoma's mastery in translating nature's calm into enduring imagery, bridging 19th-century Romantic ideals with modern printmaking precision. Housed in the esteemed Rosenwald Collection, this piece invites visitors to pause and ponder Thoma's vision of peaceful wandering, a timeless antidote to life's tempests. (178 words)

About the Artist

Hans Thoma · 1839–1924

Hans Thoma (1839-1924) was a distinguished German painter often celebrated as the "Painter of the Black Forest" for his deep connection to the landscapes and folklore of his native region in southwestern Germany. Born to a miller's family in the Black Forest village of Bernau, Thoma rose from humble origins to become one of Germany's most respected artists and eventually director of the prestigiou...