hasenkamp Group, hasenkamp Fine Art

Small-footed Wanderer

12.04.2023

A Collection Manager at the Hamburger Kunsthalle and a Logistics Expert from the Hasenkamp Group at the Hamburger Kunsthalle take down/package the piece Wanderer above the Sea of the Fog (c. 1817) by Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) in the sustainable arca transport crate. © SHK / Hamburger Kunsthalle / Hasenkamp Group Photo: Romanus Fuhrmann

Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer above the Sea of Fog has been placed in an arca picture crate from the Hasenkamp Group for travel – protected against outside influences in its sustainable packaging.

Cologne/Frechen/Hamburg, 13 April, 2023 – Sustainability always in focus: This is true for the iconic work of Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, on the 249th anniversary of his birthday. Before the painting is to be shown again in a large celebration exhibit to honour the artist’s 250th birthday at the Hamburger Kunsthalle in December, the Wanderer will be travelling in an innovative arca transport crate designed according to rigorous sustainability specifications by Hasenkamp Group. The objective along this route: To make the ecological footprint from packaging and transport as small as possible. The nature motif as a subject of the Wanderer is not the only incentive – the Hamburger Kunsthalle and Hasenkamp have committed themselves, within the framework of their close collaboration, to the very fundamental goal of carrying out the generally sustainable transport of artwork. 

“We are thrilled that, with Caspar David Friedrich’s work, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, we can transport such a prominent painting in the new arca picture crate. To optimally protect the painting and keep the environmental impact from packaging and transport as minimal as possible is our aim and, ultimately, the museum’s request. It just fits together very nicely”, says Thomas Schneider, Managing Partner of Hasenkamp.

"Hasenkamp is our reliable transport partner with whom we have been working for decades. With the new picture crate arca, we are treading new paths together from the point of view of sustainability and are thus meeting the challenges posed by the transformation of the exhibition system", states Markus Bertsch, Head of the 19th century collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

Light luggage and sustainable views 

The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog can thank, above all, the completely recyclable, climate-friendly transport containers for travelling this especially environmentally friendly route. The arca crate is a lightweight design built from the fastest growing deciduous trees. The Kiri tree grown on European tree plantations reaches a height of up to six meters in its first season and saves above average qualities of CO2, which is why it is known as a climate tree.

The novel arca crate system weighs only about half of what conventional transport crates for artwork weigh. Yet another positive environmental factor: The arca system allows for the cancellation of two-thirds of the customary truck journeys required for transport since Hasenkamp consistently observes the museum’s climate conditions in the supply chain and helps avoid acclimatization times. In this manner, emissions from transport can be significantly reduced. For the Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, this means that it is comfortably protected in the arca crate while is also simultaneously leaves with a small carbon footprint on its travels. A good outlook: for both nature and the art world.