Two Men Contemplating the Moon at Night Ceramic Tile

This design features a painting by the 19th-century German artist Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840). It depicts two human figures in a dark forest. They are silhouetted by a brighter pastel-colored sky. The sky suggests that the time is around dusk, as the waxing crescent moon appears to be close to setting. The dark foregrounds and light backgrounds create a sharp contrast and produces an effective artistic effect. A dead uprooted tree's dark roots and branches can also be seen in the foreground, contrasting with the sky. The jagged branches and stark contrasts seem to create a threatening environment for the figures, the entire atmosphere is reminiscent of the imposing Gothic style seen originally in the medieval era, but revived here in the Romantic period. The figures themselves are dressed in dark colors and stiff somewhat formal garments, which also serve to signify their upper-class status. The artwork suggests spirituality in nature and the presence of the sublime, which are major themes for Caspar David Friedrich. The original German title of the painting is "Zwei Männer in Betrachtung des Mondes", which means "Two Men Contemplating the Moon".