Artwork
Winter in Kragerø
Winter in Kragerø is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916, *Winter in Kragerø* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work depicts a cold, coastal town framed by a solitary, slender tree and distant hills. Its composition balances a quiet foreground with a modest settlement of red‑tiled roofs, conveying a muted winter atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of stillness in the seaside town of Kragerø during winter, emphasizing the isolation of the lone tree against the sky. Munch’s treatment suggests an introspective mood, inviting viewers to contemplate the subtle emotional resonance of a landscape stripped of summer’s vibrancy.
Technique & Style
Munch employs broad, expressive brushwork characteristic of his post‑impressionist phase, favoring a limited palette of blues, greens, and subdued earth tones. The paint application is vigorous yet restrained, allowing the texture of the canvas to convey the chill of the season while the simplified forms heighten the work’s psychological tone.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. It was produced during a period when Munch was revisiting Norwegian coastal scenes, integrating his personal emotional language with a more observational approach to landscape.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
