Europe
Elina Brotherus
Der Wanderer 3
2004
Elina Brotherus, Der Wanderer 3, 2004. Photograph.
A subject’s back stands before a landscape of mountains, arid and majestic, Der Wanderer 3 revisits the theme of man versus nature dear to Romantic painting and the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich in particular. “From him I returned to the theme of the character turning their backs to the viewer. I love the back. The back is quiet, discreet, polite and distant. It does not challenge the viewer as the eye does, the viewer looks at the same landscape as the model, but they are not disturbed.” With the series The New Painting made between 2000 and 2004, Brotherus confronts the photographic medium to the codes of classical painting, its subjects and aesthetics, particularly those of the landscape and the use of the nude.
Elina Brotherus is known for her evocative photography and video work. Brotherus's practice often explores themes of identity, personal history, and the human condition, frequently using herself as the subject to examine the relationship between the individual and their environment. Her series, such as The New Painting and Annonciation blend autobiographical elements with references to art history, particularly classical painting and literature. Brotherus's distinctive approach combines documentary precision with poetic introspection, creating images that are both visually compelling and emotionally resonant. Through her lens, Brotherus invites viewers to engage with profound questions of existence and the passage of time, making her a significant voice in contemporary visual art. Her work continues to inspire and provoke, bridging the personal with the universal in a uniquely reflective manner.