Artwork
Winter Night
Winter Night is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1900, *Winter Night* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a nocturnal winter scene rendered in muted blues and whites, inviting viewers into a quiet, snow‑filled landscape. It belongs to the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among other examples of Munch’s early explorations of mood and atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a broad, snow‑covered field punctuated by a handful of bare trees, beneath a deepening evening sky. A faint sun sinks behind the treeline, casting a soft glow that contrasts with the surrounding darkness. The composition conveys a sense of stillness and introspection, reflecting Munch’s interest in the inner emotional states that ordinary scenery can evoke.
Technique & Style
Munch employs oil pigments with a pronounced chiaroscuro effect, allowing light and shadow to delineate space and depth. The darkening sky and illuminated snow create a tactile sense of volume, while the brushwork remains loose, characteristic of his post‑impressionist phase. This approach prioritises personal expression and mood over strict naturalistic detail.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection. Munch’s training at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania and his involvement with contemporary bohemian circles informed the work’s emotive focus, situating it within his broader early‑career output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
