The gardener | Oil painting on canvas

Description

The Gardener

Oil on canvas | 50 × 60 cm

In this self-portrait, the artist depicts himself tending to a small garden in a village of the Black Forest —a personal reflection on rebuilding life in a new environment after years in the city of Frankfurt. The composition balances intimacy and openness: the figure, bare-chested under a wide, changing sky, stands at the center of a quiet world defined by order, colour, and growth.

Formally, The Gardener contrasts the geometric precision of the village houses and fences with the expressive handling of paint in the plants, soil, and figure. The thick brushwork and vibrant palette —from the earthy browns to the lush greens and glowing yellows— evoke both the physical effort of the act and the warmth of renewal. Every stroke reinforces the rhythm between cultivation and creation, between grounding and transformation.

Symbolically, the work transcends the literal scene of gardening. The exposed torso, open to the elements, becomes a statement of vulnerability and authenticity —a return to essentials. The act of digging mirrors the artist’s own process of rooting himself in a new place, of shaping an inner and outer landscape through work, care, and persistence.

The small boxer at his side brings a note of loyalty and companionship, anchoring the scene in emotional reality. Together, man, earth, and animal form a quiet trinity of belonging —a reminder that creation, whether artistic or domestic, is ultimately an act of connection.

The Gardener is both a personal statement and a universal image of renewal —a portrait of labour as self-discovery, and of the quiet dignity found in tending to one’s own ground.

This work is part of Tales of the Black Forest, a series that explores the relationship between human presence and the natural world. Through scenes of daily life, introspection, and quiet symbolism, the series reflects on adaptation, solitude, and renewal within the landscape of the Black Forest.

About this painting:

Materials: Oil pigments, acrylic and pencil on canvas.

Frame made from European reforested woods.

The artwork is hand-stretched and stapled on the reverse on a 0,7″ deep frame with the sides painted black.

This artwork comes with D-ring hangers and is ready to hang.

The gardener oil painting is hand signed by the artist on the front, and signed & titled on the back.

It Includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed and sealed by the artist himself.

Delivered in a secure, protective cardboard packaging.

Created in Germany. Delivered from the Black Forest.

Worldwide Delivery.

Delivery

We aim to deliver our original artwork within:

Germany – 5-10 working days.

Europe – 7-12 working days.

Rest of world – 10-30 working days.

NOTE:

• The size of the artwork on pictures is just referential
• Artwork colours may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or monitor settings
• No watermark appears on the artwork