The brothers Andreas and Oswald Achenbach — adherents of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

Abstract

This article examines the work of 19th-century landscape painters, brothers Andreas and Oswald Achenbach, who were students of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Academy of Arts). The study aims to identify the distinctive features of the Academy’s pedagogical system and analyse the creative methods of each brother. Both artists reflected the broader evolution of 19th-century European landscape painting towards a realistic plein-air approach. The research is based on a comprehensive historical and stylistic analysis of the Achenbachs' works, an investigation into the Academy’s teaching practices, and a historiographical method to evaluate the academic system’s influence on the development of Realism and plein air painting. The scholarly novelty of the work lies in situating the Achenbach brothers’ oeuvre as a significant link in the evolution of German landscape painting, transitioning from Romanticism and academic traditions towards Realism and pre-Impressionist plein-air techniques. The author clarifies their unique position within the ‘German Romans’ (Deutschrömer) circle, emphasizing the naturalist and realist focus of their inquiries rather than mythological themes. Furthermore, the article details the Achenbachs’ roles as educators who shaped a national school of realist landscape and influenced subsequent generations of artists, including Russian painters.