Reflections of the concepts of uncanny and mystery in the works of Caspar David Friedrich

In this thesis study, it is aimed to examine the works of German painter Caspar David Friedrich in the context of the concepts of uncanniness and mystery. The importance of the thesis is the idea that the concepts of mystery and uncanniness, which are thought to be reflected in Friedrich's works, actually manifest as reflections from the artist's inner world. Thus, the idea that the artist focuses not only on natural works but also on reflecting his inner world through nature constitutes the importance of the thesis. In line with these thoughts, it is thought that examining and analyzing the artist's works is valuable and will be important as a source for future research. It is hoped that it will make a small contribution to the literature. In line with this goal, in the thesis study, care is taken to select the artist's works of art that are most suitable for this subject and reveal the subject with its most striking features. Friedrich's paintings reflect the spirit of the Romantic period and present us with the deep meanings of natural landscapes with the mysterious atmosphere he prefers. The uncanniness and mystery in Friedrich's works are conveyed to the audience through distinct spatial choices, sometimes symbolic expressions and atmospheric details. Of course, with all these elements, Friedrich's unity with nature immediately catches the eye. Basic concepts such as the painter's relationship with nature, the effect of nature on humans, and the smallness of humans in front of nature frequently appear in his works. Especially the use of light, the uncertainty of the chosen spaces and symbolic details strengthen the uncanny and mysterious atmosphere of the works. The natural landscapes in Friedrich's works, with the artist's atmospheric and mysterious approach, offer the viewer the opportunity to go beyond the physical world and investigate the deeper meanings of these works in emotional, nature and life contexts. The experience of realizing the relationship between nature and humans draws the viewer into the inner world of the works and their uncanny and mysterious atmosphere. This allows mystery to create a feeling of discovery and inner journey. In order to better understand the concepts of mystery and uncanniness, the themes and explanations of mystery and uncanny are included in the chapters of the thesis. As a result, this thesis emphasizes the importance of the concepts of uncanniness and mystery in the works of Caspar David Friedrich in art history. At the same time, it is seen that Friedrich's art reflects the spiritual depth of the Romantic period and the metaphysical relationship of nature and man. The artist's works seem to be loaded with the desire to investigate the inherent meanings of nature, uncanniness and mystery. The idea that nature is a reflection of the inner and outer world is embodied in the artist's works. Friedrich's way of interpreting nature and emphasizing man's position vis-à-vis nature reveals the uniqueness and mysterious effect of his art. This thesis offers an important perspective on the depth and richness of Friedrich's art. Finally, the painter's works leave the viewer alone with the desire to discover the mystery and uncannyness inherent in nature and life. In the research, literature scanning and work analysis were carried out within the scope of qualitative research method. In addition to the resources related to the subject, visual and literary resources such as books, articles, magazines, encyclopedias, libraries, interactive links, photographs, etc. were used for review purposes along with side resources that will support and nourish the subject.