CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH ...

Is a much neglected Romantic landscape painter who in stark contrast to his contemporaries, with their classical tastes, was much more interested in the landscape than portraits or still lives. His art can't fail to impress you with the impact he manages to express in his landscapes. He would study different aspects of nature in detail and would then paint a landscape with this level of detail.

                                                                              © Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

                                                          © The Abbey in the Oakwood

He is known for his expansive landscapes against which he would often set human figures and buildings. His paintings were often gothic or sublime in nature. A contemporary said that he had discovered the 'tragedy of landscape'. In recent years his impact and legacy has been reevaluated and in 2025 there was a show of his work on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York called Casper 'David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature'.

Here's a link to the Exhibition.

  

MAID MARIAN & HER MERRY MEN ...

Is a children's TV series about the adventures of Maid Marian as the leader of the Merry Men instead of Robin Hood who is portrayed as an inept ex-tailor rather than the valiant leader of the band of outlaws known as the Merry Men.

                           © BBC                                                                © BBC

The TV series is historical in a tongue and cheek sort of way and is genuinely very funny as it follows the escapades of The Merry Men lead by Marian against King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. 

The TV series stars Tony Robinson of 'Time Team' and 'Black Adder' fame, so it is interesting to see how well the history is portrayed and parodied like in 'Black Adder' where he played a character called Baldrick. Robinson has expressed interest in continuing the series beyond series four and one Christmas special. Interestingly the series was adapted into a series of comics By Paul Cemmick for 'The Daily Telegraph' newspaper's children's newspaper: 'The Young Telegraph'.

              © BBC                                                                © BBC

Here's a link to the TV series on Amazon where you can but it.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA ...

'Echoes of Wisdom' is a Zelda game made by Nintendo that uses the same aesthetic as a previous Zelda game called 'The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening', which is itself a remake of an earlier Zelda Game. You can read more about it in one of my previous blogs.                         

                                                                                                                                © Nintendo

It is interesting for two main reasons; the first and foremost is it is actually the first Zelda game where the main character you play as, is Zelda Herself and not Link who usually has to rescue Zelda in previous games. Ironic since the entire franchise is called 'The Legend of Zelda' and not 'The Legend of Link'.

                      Zelda ©Nintendo                                      Link ©Nintendo

The second reason that the game is different to most other Zelda games is you mainly use just the power to copy and place objects and creatures temporarily (the power of which increases over the course of the game) instead of the normal collection of different tools and weapons to increase your abilities.

Here's a link to the game on Nintendo's website where you can buy it.

THE ISLAND ...

Is a picture book by renowned Swiss artist Armin Greder. He works mainly in compressed charcoal and pastels for his bold and minimalist illustrations. His work is often about serious topics like immigration, and prejudice conveyed in an accessible and impactful way without the usual bombast of other fables in similar picture books. His work reminds me of Henry Moore the sculptor and Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' in its intensity, while the plot and tone feel more like a Raymond Briggs picture book. 

                                                                                                                            © Armin Greder

                        © Henry Moore                                                  © Henry Moore

                                                                                  © Edvard Munch                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                            © Armin Greder

Armin Greder has published many other picture books on various themes and his work has been nominated for multiple awards; such as the Hans Christian Andersen award and the CBCA Picture Book Of The Year Awards. 

He currently lives in Peru after previously migrating to Australia. 

Here's a link to The Island on Amazon where you can buy the picture book.