Artwork
Winter in Kragerø
Winter in Kragerø is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1925, *Winter in Kragerø* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a quiet winter landscape of the coastal town of Kragerø, rendered in a post‑impressionist manner. It is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among other early‑20th‑century European works.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures a snow‑laden hillside that slopes toward a modest cluster of buildings, their roofs barely visible beneath a blanket of white. Sparse trees punctuate the slope, while a low, overcast sky dominates the horizon. The composition conveys the stillness and muted atmosphere of a Norwegian winter, inviting contemplation of the landscape’s quiet endurance.
Technique & Style
The overall approach reflects post‑impressionist concerns with surface, color, and emotional resonance rather than strict realism.
Munch employs a restrained palette of greys, blues, and soft earth tones, allowing the snow’s subtle variations to define form. Broad, confident brushstrokes build texture on the ground and foliage, while strong contrasts of light and shadow—an application of chiaroscuro—enhance the sense of volume. The overall approach reflects post‑impressionist concerns with surface, color, and emotional resonance rather than strict realism.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it has remained for decades. The museum acquired the work as part of its effort to represent significant Scandinavian artists of the early twentieth century, situating Munch’s landscape alongside his more widely known expressionist pieces.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
