Adolph Menzel "Much later in the show, there is a painting by Adolph Menzel of an empty room, painted in 1845. The door to the balcony is open, the light filters into the room through a translucent curtain. The painting seems to ask us questions about what is real, what is reflected, what is painted. It is an inconsequential view of an unoccupied room on a sunny day, with the light coming in. We are made aware of the light, how it moves through the room, catches on a chair back and on a picture frame, pools on the polished floor. The air in the room feels very present. We are aware, somehow, that the painter is in the room, observing, and that he has bought us with him. " I disagree with this guy about Friedrich, though.