Naturgemälde

Naturgemälde, literally “nature painting,” is a term used in German art history to describe a genre or approach that emphasizes accurate, often detailed representation of nature. The designation denotes paintings whose primary aim is to depict natural phenomena—landscape, plants, animals, weather, and geological features—in a quasi-scientific or observational manner, rather than to convey myth, allegory, or idealized beauty alone.

The concept arose in German-speaking regions with the rise of natural history and cabinets of curiosities in the early modern period, and it continued to develop through the 18th and 19th centuries. Artists and illustrators produced works intended as visual records or educational images, sometimes accompanying natural history texts or serving as frontispieces for scientific descriptions. In practice, naturgemälde sit at the intersection of landscape painting, topographical depiction, and scientific illustration.

Typical characteristics include a strong emphasis on verisimilitude, careful attention to light, texture, and flora and fauna, and sometimes methodological notes or inscriptions that identify species or geological details. Compositional choices favor clear, legible scenes that prioritize observable nature over symbolic or allegorical content. The term is used descriptively by scholars to analyze works that align with empirical observation of the natural world, rather than as a formal, named school.

See also: landscape painting, topographical art, natural history illustration, cabinet pictures.