The lush canopies intertwine, while each trunk grows independently. Yellow flowers dot the grass around the trees, which are also interspersed with understory, and a modest cabin can be seen in the background. This image was likely inspired by Karinger’s strolls through Mestni Log, to the south of the capital, where the Ljubljana Marshes begin. During the same period, Karinger produced many landscape paintings featuring forests, mountains, and rugged, rocky terrain. It is difficult to say which works were created in situ, as Karinger always sketched out his trees and individual natural motifs, and at least for those works depicting well-known scenes, it is easy to see how significantly he tweaked them to fit his style and expression.
While studying in Vienna, Karinger also painted landscape works at the city’s park Prater; his oaks can be compared to Prater Landscape by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793–1865), a groundbreaking and influential Viennese painter who advocated for painting in plein air. Part of his studies included tracing the works of Lovro Janša (1749–1812), and his professor was Franz Steinfeld (1787–1868), who among others also left his mark on Marko Pernhart (1824–1871). Among his influences “at home”, Karinger’s first role model in depicting Slovenian landscapes was Franz Kurz von Goldenstein (1807–1878).