Reiter

About this artwork

Bildtitel nach rückseitigem Etikett. Die 1872 datierte Studie dürfte bei Kroatisch Haslau an der Donau entstanden sein. Tina Blau traf dort im Sommer 1872 auf eine Gruppe junger Maler um Emil Jakob Schindler, Franz Rumpler, Eugen Jettel und Julius Viktor Berger. Von Rumpler besitzt das Belvedere ein kleines gemälde, das offenbar denselben Jungen mit den beiden Pferden am Ufer der Donau zeigt (Inv. Nr. 1405). Tina Blau sucht in dieser rasch skizzierten Ölstudie die Spontaneität des Augenblicks ei...

Art Historical Context

### Reiter (Rider) In 1872, Austrian painter Tina Blau created this lively oil sketch on canvas, measuring a modest 31.1 × 46.4 cm, now treasured in Vienna's Belvedere Collection. Titled from a label on the back, *Reiter* depicts a young rider leading horses along the Danube River bank at Kroatisch Haslau, a serene spot near Vienna. Blau, one of the few prominent female artists of her era, captured this everyday scene with fresh energy, transforming a simple landscape into something vibrant and immediate. The painting emerged during a pivotal summer when Blau joined a group of innovative young painters—Emil Jakob Schindler, Franz Rumpler, Eugen Jettel, and Julius Viktor Berger—for open-air sketching sessions. This circle foreshadowed Austria's move toward more naturalistic, light-filled landscapes, akin to early Impressionism. Fascinatingly, the Belvedere holds a similar work by Rumpler (Inv. No. 1405) featuring the same boy and horses, hinting at shared inspiration from that sunny afternoon. Blau's technique shines in her rapid brushwork, prioritizing the spontaneity of the moment over polished detail. The rider and horses serve as a dynamic focal point, injecting life into an otherwise unremarkable riverside view. This study exemplifies her skill in balancing figure and nature, offering visitors a glimpse into 19th-century Vienna's artistic awakening.