Philipp Runge

Philipp Otto Runge (1777-1810) occupies a central, if somewhat enigmatic, position in the history of German Romantic art. Born in Wolgast, a small town in Pomerania, Runge was initially destined for a career in his family’s shipping business. However, his artistic inclinations soon became apparent, and by his early twenties he had resolved to pursue painting, eventually enrolling at the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts. It was there that he encountered the burgeoning ideas of Romanticism, which would profoundly influence the trajectory of his short but significant career.

Runge’s approach to art was deeply philosophical; he sought to express the profound unity between humanity, nature, and the spiritual world. Inspired by the writings of Friedrich Schiller and the mystical poetry of Novalis, he believed that art should transcend mere representation, aspiring instead to reveal the underlying essence of the cosmos. This ambition is most evident in his magnum opus, the series of four paintings known as the “Times of Day” (Morgen, Mittag, Abend, Nacht), which he conceived as an allegorical cycle reflecting the passage of time and the eternal rhythms of nature. Although only the “Morning” was completed in oil, the entire series survives in detailed drawings and engravings, bearing witness to Runge’s visionary imagination.

In both style and subject matter, Runge differed markedly from his contemporaries. While many of his peers, such as Caspar David Friedrich, focused on the sublime and solitary aspects of landscape, Runge’s works are characterised by their symbolic complexity and intricate compositions. He frequently incorporated motifs from folklore and Christian iconography, blending them with personal mythology. His portraits, too, possess a distinctive intensity, capturing not only the likeness but also the inner life of his sitters.

Runge was also a pioneer in the exploration of colour theory. His “Farbenkugel” (Colour Sphere), published in 1810, represented one of the earliest systematic attempts to depict the relationships between colours in three dimensions. This innovative work influenced later artists and scientists alike, including Goethe and, indirectly, the Impressionists. The “Farbenkugel” remains a testament to his interdisciplinary curiosity and his desire to bridge the gap between science and art.

Tragically, Runge’s life was cut short by tuberculosis at the age of thirty-three. Despite his brief career, his ideas resonated powerfully with later generations, contributing to the development of Symbolism and modern art. Today, Philipp Otto Runge is celebrated not only as a painter but also as a thinker whose quest for unity and meaning in art continues to inspire.