Anselm Feuerbach (1829 – 1880) – Memory about Tivoli Alte und Neue Nationalgalerie (Berlin)

The composition presents a scene steeped in idyllic nostalgia. Here we observe two figures positioned within a lush, verdant landscape dominated by a cascading waterfall. The setting appears to be a natural grotto or elevated rocky outcrop overlooking a body of water. Dense foliage frames the view, creating a sense of enclosure and intimacy while simultaneously hinting at an expansive, untamed wilderness beyond.
A young woman occupies the higher ground, seated on a rock formation. Her gaze is directed upwards, seemingly lost in reverie or contemplation. She wears simple, flowing garments – a white blouse and a deep blue skirt – adorned with a wreath of leaves upon her head, evoking associations with classical mythology and pastoral imagery. The posture suggests a certain melancholy, a wistful longing for something beyond the immediate surroundings.
Below her, a young man reclines on another rock, playing a lute. His attire mirrors hers in its simplicity and classical inspiration; he is bare-chested and draped in a reddish-brown cloth. He appears absorbed in his music, seemingly unaware of or indifferent to the woman’s contemplative state. The contrast between their postures – her upward gaze versus his focused engagement with the instrument – introduces a subtle tension within the scene.
The artists use of light is significant. A soft, diffused illumination bathes the figures and landscape, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The waterfall itself serves as a focal point, its cascading water reflecting the ambient light and adding to the overall sense of tranquility. However, the darkness that surrounds the composition creates a feeling of isolation and distance, suggesting that this memory is viewed from afar, perhaps through the lens of time.
The subtexts within the work revolve around themes of remembrance, loss, and the passage of time. The title itself implies a recollection of a specific place – Tivoli, known for its picturesque gardens and waterfalls – suggesting that the scene represents a cherished memory being revisited. The figures’ youthful appearance and classical attire contribute to an idealized vision of the past, one tinged with melancholy and longing. It is possible to interpret the painting as a meditation on the ephemeral nature of beauty and happiness, and the inevitable distance that time places between us and our most treasured experiences. The lute players obliviousness could be read as representing the inability to fully share or understand another’s inner world, further emphasizing the sense of solitude inherent in memory itself.