| Around 1900, the Hamburger Kunsthalle, under the direction of Alfred Lichtwark, was particularly active in art education. A key aspect of his vision was the development of a collection showcasing works from the Hanseatic city. Approximately thirty artists were commissioned by Lichtwark to portray prominent Hamburg citizens or to paint views of the city and its surroundings. These works aimed to foster a stronger cultural and historical connection between the residents and their city. At the same time, Lichtwark hoped that by generating interest in familiar subjects, visitors to the Kunsthalle would become more open to modern artistic forms. | |
| Lichtwark entrusted commissions to painters he highly respected. In this context, Slevogt created a portrait of Senator William Henry O’Swald for the Kunsthalle in 1905. Additionally, without any specific commission, he produced several landscapes of the Alster, including the one in question. While Max Liebermann, in his painting *Sommerabend an der Alster* (1910; Kunsthalle Hamburg), focused on elegant ladies in their boats, Slevogt paid little attention to human figures. Instead, he was captivated by the atmospheric qualities: the blurring of contours along the distant shore, the reflections of water and sky, and the changing colors and light of the evening. | |
| Slevogt captured an open, dynamic scene using lively brushstrokes and vibrant colors. The depiction presents Hamburg as a leisure destination, with only the distant lights and towers hinting at the presence of a city. |