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Student Artwork Guide

On the Sofa

Wilhelm Trübner, 1872

Name Class Date
Wilhelm Trübner, On the Sofa (1872). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Wilhelm Trübner topimpressionists.com/en/artists/wilhelm-trubner/
Artist’s dates
1851 – 1917
Painted
1872
Original size
52 x 45 cm
Movement
Realism Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Wilhelm Trübner died in 1917; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1987.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner Part 1 · The artwork

In context

On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner

How big is it?

The original measures 52 × 45 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900
  7. 1910

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 66 at death.

Painted when the artist was 21. The artist lived to 66. 1 of the 47 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Wilhelm Trübner (1851–1917) ▲ this work, 1872 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1875 Main working years: 1875–1902 Late works: from 1902

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Black #0b0b0e

    Catalogued palette

    • #0B0B0E
    • #C4B49E
    • #866251
    • #393431

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Black
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Wilhelm Trübner over the last twelve months — 5 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 60.0%
    2. 2 Germany 13.3%
    3. 3 Singapore 13.3%
    4. 4 Switzerland 6.7%
    5. 5 United States of America 6.7%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 15 most looked-at works by Wilhelm Trübner

    1. 1 Maler Hafenmeister with Model (also known as Adam and Eve in Costume), 1873 12.5%
    2. 2 Girl in a Tree, 1907 12.5%
    3. 3 Erna von Holzhausen on Horseback, 1901 6.2%
    4. 4 Dog with Sausages (also known as Hail Caesar, We Who are about to Die Salute You), 1878 6.2%
    5. 5 Jörg Trübner in Rüstung, 1914 6.2%
    6. 6 The Equestrienne Ida Görz, 1901 6.2%
    7. 7 Great Dane on Wessling Lake, 1876 6.2%
    8. 8 The Edge of the Woods at Obing, 1892 6.2%
    9. 9 Erna von Holzhausen, 1901 6.2%
    10. 10 Liebespaar mit Hund, 1873 6.2%
    11. 11 Marbachtal im Odenwald, 1902 6.2%
    12. 12 Eagle, 1888 6.2%
    13. 13 Graf Haupt zu Pappenheim, 1884 6.2%
    14. 14 Georgine Hoffmeister, 1873 6.2%
    15. — On the Sofa, 1872 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 99.4% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 47 works by this artist, of which 14 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Wilhelm Trübner

    The Golden Legacy of Wilhelm Trübner

    Born in Heidelberg, Wilhelm Trübner emerged as a profound voice within the landscape of German Realism. His journey into the world of fine art began not with a brush, but with the meticulous precision of a goldsmith; after beginning his training in Hanau, he encountered the classicist painter Anselm Feuerbach, whose encouragement redirected his path toward the canvas. This early intersection of craftsmanship and classical inspiration laid the foundation for a career defined by technical mastery and an unwavering commitment to the truth of the natural world. As he moved through the Kunstschule in Karlsruhe and later the Kunstacademie in Munich, Trübner became part of a transformative era in European painting, shaped by the winds of change blowing from both the local German traditions and the radical innovations of France.

    Trübner’s artistic identity was deeply intertwined with the Leibl Circle, a group of artists that included figures such as Hans Thoma and Carl Schuch. This collective sought to move away from the rigid, often stale academic traditions of the time, favoring instead an unsentimental realism. His development was significantly catalyzed by his encounters with the works of Gustave Courbet, whose alla prima method—working directly and quickly from nature—offered a liberating alternative to the labored processes of the past. This influence, combined with the spontaneous yet restrained spirit he encountered in the art of Manet during his travels through Paris, allowed Trübner to cultivate a style that was both deeply grounded in reality and exquisitely atmospheric.

    A Mastery of Light and Atmosphere

    The essence of Trübner’s work lies in his ability to capture the ephemeral qualities of light and the psychological depth of his subjects. Whether rendering the quiet dignity of a portrait or the sprawling majesty of a woodland scene, his technique emphasizes the interplay of shadow and illumination. In his landscapes, such as the evocative Forest Interior, he employs a painterly approach where colors are allowed to breathe, creating a rhythmic movement across the canvas. His use of golden hues, amber, and ochre can make a forest appear to glow from within, transforming a mere botanical study into a meditative experience on the passage of time and the grandeur of nature.

    His portraiture is equally remarkable for its ability to convey profound stillness and internal reflection. In works like Karl Haberstock, Trübner captures more than just a likeness; he records a state of being. Through deliberate brushwork and a sophisticated command over texture, he invites the viewer into a moment of contemplative repose, where the subject's very presence anchors the composition. This ability to balance the tactile richness of his medium with an ethereal, atmospheric transcendence remains his most enduring achievement, marking him as a master who could find the extraordinary within the ordinary.

    Artistic Contributions and Influence

    Throughout his life, Trübner’s work served as a bridge between the rigorous realism of the mid-19th century and the more fluid, expressive movements that followed. His contributions to the Leibl Circle helped solidify a specific German aesthetic that valued honesty, texture, and the direct observation of nature. His legacy is found in:

    The Refinement of Realism: Moving beyond simple imitation to capture the atmospheric essence of his subjects.

    Technical Innovation: Integrating the spontaneous methods of French masters with German precision.

    Thematic Depth: Elevating landscapes and portraits from mere documentation to profound psychological and natural meditations.

    Trübner’s life was also marked by personal connections to the art world, notably through his marriage to the German artist Alice Trübner. Together, they existed within a vibrant cultural milieu that helped shape the trajectory of modern German painting. His work remains a testament to a period of intense artistic discovery, where the pursuit of "art for art's sake" met a deep respect for the tangible beauty of the world.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for On the Sofa

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Trübner, Wilhelm. On the Sofa. 1872, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/
    APA
    Trübner, Wilhelm (1872). On the Sofa [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/
    Chicago
    Wilhelm Trübner. On the Sofa. 1872. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/
    Harvard
    Trübner, Wilhelm (1872) On the Sofa. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/wilhelm-trubner-on-the-sofa-AQQUPQ-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait painting, victorian era art, classical composition. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Landing Stage on the Island Herreninsel in the Lake Chiemsee (1874), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Realism: Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    On the Sofa — Wilhelm Trübner Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How do I discover artworks close to "On the Sofa" by Wilhelm Trübner?

    Artworks similar to "On the Sofa" by Wilhelm Trübner are gathered on the artwork's Similars page.

    What aliases or alternate names does Wilhelm Trübner have?

    Other names recorded for Wilhelm Trübner, creator of "On the Sofa", include Wilhelm Trubner.

    How does the subject of "On the Sofa" relate to Wilhelm Trübner's usual themes?

    "On the Sofa" depicts portrait painting, victorian era art, classical composition, black and white portrait, 19th century style, formal portraiture, elegant subject matter, while Wilhelm Trübner's recorded themes are realist influence, german artistic circle, portraiture focus, art for art's sake, domestic tranquility, 19th-century bourgeois life, tranquil, contemplative mood. Comparing the two shows how the work relates to the artist's usual subjects.