Friedrich was a german romantic painter contemporary with Turner. There a clear similarities in their styles, though Friedrich is more religiously and allegorically founded while Turner went more in a impressionist direction. "The romantic side is seen in his work as nature becoming the god instead of biblical figures as in classical art. He sees man as an almost insignificant force compared to the overwhelming grandure of nature.
"On A Sailing Boar" was finished in 1819 and thus from his most allegorical period. This work though, is not as humiliating as some of his other works and even extends emotions of love, hope and longing, that is quite rare for him. Still there are some of his most famous trademarks present, like the misty destination over the horizon and the characters having their backs turned to the viewer. In an unusual fashion we are not distant spectators to a godly drama of nature, but actually in a seemingly unescapable first person view, as we join the couple on the boat heading for their enevitable destination. We look equally as eagerly towards what we are heading to and join them in the slow uncovering of the stylized metropolis as it emerges from behind the horizon.
The couple does not seem to be in a picnic setting on the front deck of the sailboat, but look rather like they have gently crawled up from the bowls of the boat to witness their approaching destination. This works two ways, the relativity in this can be seen both as an approach and being approached. The stillness of the couple though, suggests they are being carried by an external force towards something, rather than being approached while they cling to the boat closely by lying on it not to risk being thrown overboard. Life in many ways is a choice of following the crowd towards a promised land, but still unknown to every new individual taking his embrace with destiny.
As the viewer you are literally forced to a certain view, but it may take some time, maybe a lifetime, to figure out if you are standing in the correct spot to understand where you are going. You have the advantage of having the couple in front of you to test the destiny for you, but you are still confined to a small space at the back of the boat, and may easily be swept overboard by the sail if the wind suddenly turns. There is an imminent danger to your position and you should obviously take a decision in life, even if you are held in a small confined area by culture. You can actually still jump overboard...but it has consequences.
The sense of the security of a boat is ambivalent in this painting. The most important aspect i think is that the line of the horizon is not precisely level but slightly off. The boat tilts to one side but the horizon tilts to that same side also. I am not quite sure what it is supposed to mean but i sense that it is important. It could be a faint whisper that this could be a fantasy in their heads. The thing they are headed towards does not exist. It is a fata morgana, an illusion. Happiness and love is internal and not an external destination. But they cannot read the signs.