Philipp Otto Runge – The Artistic Roots of Sabine Runge

Philipp Otto Runge (1777–1810) was one of Germany's most significant painters and a key figure of the Romantic movement. He is celebrated for his masterful depictions of nature and his deeply symbolic portraits, marked by a mystical quality that set him apart from his contemporaries. Runge was not only a painter but a multifaceted artist who engaged with poetry, colour theory, and illustration. Alongside Caspar David Friedrich, he remains one of the most important German painters of the 19th century.

The Connection to Goethe and Caspar David Friedrich

Runge's innovative work on the Farbenkugel – his three-dimensional colour sphere – fascinated Johann Wolfgang von Goethe himself. Both sought a deeper understanding of colour and its emotional impact on the viewer, a theme that remains central to my own artistic practice. Together with Caspar David Friedrich, Runge shaped an era that did not merely depict nature, but understood it as a mirror of the soul.

Light, Shadow and Craft

Runge's pioneering work in the art of Scherenschnitte – intricate paper-cut silhouettes – reveals his devotion to precision and handcrafted detail. He sent Goethe numerous flower compositions as paper cuts for his interior decoration. This dedication to handcrafted perfection is the legacy I continue today in my studio in Ottobrunn near Munich, translated into a contemporary form through multi-layer acrylic technique, texture pastes, and 24-karat gold leaf.

Philipp Otto Runge's Masterworks

Runge left behind a remarkable body of work. His most celebrated paintings – Morning, Evening, and Day – offer a fascinating exploration of nature and atmosphere. Three major works were tragically destroyed in the 1931 fire at the Munich Glaspalast. The near-complete surviving body of work can be admired today at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, which hosted the landmark exhibition Runge und seine Zeit in 1977/78.

Philipp Otto Runge – My Artistic Roots

On my father's side, my family roots trace back to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northern Germany – the same region where Philipp Otto Runge was born and shaped. We share a common passion: creating art that convinces through craftsmanship, material quality, and artistic depth.

Like Philipp Otto Runge, I strive to integrate timeless beauty into my paintings – through exceptional materials such as genuine 24-karat gold leaf – achieving a standard of handcrafted artistry that defines the spaces it inhabits.

→ Discover the Collection – Originals by Sabine Runge