Boy sleeping on a grave 1803

Caspar David Friedrich created this black and white drawing titled "Boy Sleeping on a Grave." The composition is dominated by a horizontal figure of a boy resting near a cross, surrounded by stylized flora. Friedrich’s use of line is particularly striking. Notice how the fine, dense lines create texture and volume, particularly in the boy’s clothing and the surrounding foliage. This technique serves not only to define form but also to evoke a sense of density and organic vitality. The cross, a stark vertical element, is softened by a wreath, contrasting the themes of mortality with renewal. This semiotic interplay is further emphasized by the butterfly, traditionally a symbol of transformation. Through these visual cues, Friedrich encourages a contemplation of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence. The formal elements work to create a tableau that is rich in symbolic meaning.