Schifferhaus in Lübeck 1894

Carl Moll painted "Schifferhaus in Lübeck" with oil on canvas. The composition shows a local tavern, but it is the social milieu of northern Germany, which Moll depicts here. The site of the tavern becomes a stage for the habits of the Hanseatic middle class. Moll seems to be exploring a sense of place. The artist uses visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations to illustrate the scene. The Schifferhaus, or "shipper's house," in Lübeck, was likely a significant establishment, perhaps linked to the economic life of the city as a port. The interior shot captures both the architecture of the tavern and the life of the people there. This painting allows us to reflect on the social structures of Moll's time. For further understanding, a social and economic history of Lübeck, in addition to a biography of Carl Moll, would be valuable. The painting's meaning is contingent on social and institutional context, which historians can reconstruct.