The Woman with the Spider’s Web between Bare Trunks (Melancholy)

A woman gazes forlornly into the distance as she sits amid flowers, weeds, and barren trees. Above her head, a fly is about to be ensnared in a spider’s web. The mournful imagery of this print, also called "Melancholy," suggests the fleeting nature of life. The woman’s surroundings have nearly engulfed her, deepening the sense of overwhelming sorrow, while also conveying the immensity of nature. This image was designed by the painter Caspar David Friedrich and cut into a wood block by his brother Christian, a furniture maker.