Times of Day

Philipp Otto Runge

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image depicts a Times of Day by Philipp Otto Runge, a detailed illustration divided into four panels in a grid. The background color appears to be a light beige or off-white. Each panel features a rectangle with a thin border and an inner border; both borders are adorned with floral designs and figures. The top left panel features a thin arch-like plant with leaves on either side topped with a star; cloud-like figures adorn the bottom. The top right features an oval frame with a hanging oval featuring hanging teardrop shapes; the image inside depicts people with a woman sitting in the center. The bottom left features a tree-like figure with a woman standing on top; winged creatures adorn the bottom. The bottom right depicts a tree with wing-like shapes extending from it; there are ten people sitting around in a semi-circle around the tree; there are more winged figures above. The top left seems to represent the Morning; the top right seems to represent the Day; the bottom left seems to represent the Evening; and the bottom right seems to represent the Night. The style and aesthetic indicate early 19th-century Romanticism. The panels themselves are slightly distressed.