Night
1804
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1804
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a dark, swirling sky over a quiet field, with a single pale figure floating in the center. Runge called this "Night," part of a series about times of day. He believed nature was a way to feel closer to God. The figure isn’t sleeping—it’s more like a dream of the soul leaving the body. The print was meant to be seen with three others, each showing dawn, noon, and evening. If this intrigues you, look up *chiaroscuro*—the way Runge uses light and shadow to make the scene feel alive.
