Who painted Ahornstudie, Richisau?

Ahornstudie, Richisau was painted by Rudolf Koller in 1857.

Where can I see Ahornstudie, Richisau?

Ahornstudie, Richisau is held by Kunsthaus Zürich.

What movement is Ahornstudie, Richisau?

Ahornstudie, Richisau is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Ahornstudie, Richisau

Rudolf Koller , 1857

Ahornstudie, Richisau is an oil painting by the Realist artist Rudolf Koller. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

Rudolf Koller’s 1857 oil painting *Ahornstudie, Richisau* presents a quiet Swiss landscape centered on a mature maple tree. The composition balances the sturdy trunk and spreading branches in the foreground with gentle hills and distant mountains, creating a sense of depth and calm. Warm, earthy hues dominate, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow across foliage and stone.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a study of a maple tree in its natural setting near Richisau, capturing the tree’s form and the surrounding terrain. By focusing on a single element of the countryside, Koller emphasizes the quiet dignity of the Swiss environment, inviting contemplation of the landscape’s enduring presence and seasonal character.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a realist approach reminiscent of the Düsseldorf school, with careful attention to detail and naturalistic color. Koller’s brushwork renders the bark’s texture and the subtle gradations of light, while the overall palette of yellows, browns, and greens conveys atmospheric warmth without idealization.

History & Provenance

Created in 1857, *Ahornstudie, Richisau* entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. The piece reflects Koller’s reputation as a leading Swiss realist painter of the mid‑nineteenth century, aligning his work with contemporaries such as Courbet and Corot while maintaining a distinct regional focus.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rudolf Koller

Rudolf Koller (21 May 1828 – 5 January 1905) was a Swiss painter. He is associated with a realist and classicist style, and also with the essentially romantic Düsseldorf school of painting. Koller's style is similar to…