City bet between Greifswald and Dresden in the Caspar David Friedrich Year

In the Caspar David Friedrich Year, Greifswald, the birthplace of the German Romantic painter, is challenging his adopted city of Dresden to a city bet. The aim is to see who can bring more people dressed in the style of Romanticism to their city's central square on September 5, said Dresden's Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP). "We want to show that this is the case here, where the artist lived and worked for 40 years."

According to the announcement, at least two Romantic costume elements are compulsory: top hat, hood or sun hat with the brim pulled down and a ribbon tied under the chin, shawl or scarf over the shoulders and arms, floor-length or ankle-length dress or skirt, classic vest or a distinctive moustache "as Friedrich wore it, either painted on, glued on, real or as a beard wig".

Both city leaders rely on citizenship

Hilbert is confident of victory and invited people to come to Neumarkt on Friedrich's birthday in costume. The challenger, Greifswald's mayor Stefan Fassbinder, is also backing his city and its guests. "Together we will show that Greifswald is the true Caspar David Friedrich city."

The artist and painter lived in Dresden until his death in 1840. Friedrich's main works were created there, he studied the paintings of the old masters in the picture gallery and took part in art debates. He found motifs in the surrounding nature on hikes in Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland, for example, which he later used in his studio in paintings that are considered masterpieces of German Romanticism.

Further honors for Friedrich in Dresden

According to Hilbert, if Dresden wins, Fassbinder will guide Elbe city residents through Greifswald in the autumn, otherwise Hilbert will invite three couples from the local competition to the Semper Opera Ball in 2025. As part of the Dresden celebrations for Friedrich, a new memorial will also be dedicated at his grave site and the Elblandphilharmonie Sachsen will perform a free birthday concert in the Albertinum - where many of Friedrich's masterpieces are preserved and exhibited.