Adolph Menzel, 1815-1905: Between Romanticism and Impressionism

The reunification of Germany has obvious political fallout but less obvious artistic results. The reassembled collections of German art offer new possibilities for shows, and one such is Adolph Menzel 1815-1905: Between Romanticism and Impressionism which is now showing at Washington's National Gallery until January 5, 1997. Although famed during his life as a member of the Royal Academy, a painter of genre scenes and a favorite of the Prussian court, Menzel is recognized today for the informal landscapes and interiors from the 1840s that were almost unknown during his life. The show's catalogue, edited by Claude Keisch and Marie-Ursula Riemann-Reyher, collects essays on Menzel's life, times, work and influences, as well as 450 illustrations, 162 in color.