Hotel by the Walchensee, from The Walchensee

Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein, 1920

MEDIUMDrypoint on paper
DIMENSIONSPlate: 24.5 × 32.5 cm (9 11/16 × 12 13/16 in.); Sheet: 47 × 36 cm (18 9/16 × 14 3/16 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONPrints and Drawings
CULTUREGermany
CREDIT LINEEdna Wilhelmine Rose Fund

This drypoint print by Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein offers a serene glimpse of a hotel by the Walchensee, capturing a moment of post-war tranquility through delicate lines and soft reflections. It's a beautiful example of how printmaking can evoke atmosphere and a sense of place.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

In this drypoint print, a stately hotel sits nestled by the tranquil Walchensee, its reflection gently rippling on the water's surface. The artist, Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein, captures the serene beauty of the Bavarian landscape with delicate lines and subtle tonal variations. The building, with its many windows, suggests a bustling yet peaceful retreat, a common theme in early 20th-century European art that romanticized nature and leisure. The surrounding hills rise softly, framing the lake and the hotel, creating a sense of quiet grandeur. This work, created in 1920, reflects a moment of calm and introspection after the turmoil of World War I, offering viewers an escape into an idyllic scene. The choice of drypoint, a technique that allows for rich, velvety lines, enhances the atmospheric quality of the print, making the light and shadow particularly evocative.

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What to Notice

1

The subtle reflections of the hotel and trees on the lake's surface.

2

The delicate cross-hatching and lines that create texture in the hills.

3

The numerous small windows of the hotel, suggesting its scale.

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Audio Deep Dive

This drypoint print by Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein offers a serene glimpse of a hotel by the Walchensee, capturing a moment of post-war tranquility through…

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THE ARTIST
Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein 1859–1937 · Switzerland

Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein, a German-Swiss painter, defied social norms to become a celebrated portraitist, exhibiting at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

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