Artwork
Ved en mølledam. Vinter
Ved en mølledam. Vinter is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Hans Friis. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Hans Friis’s 1875 oil painting titled Ved en mølledam. Vinter is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The work presents a winter landscape centered on a frozen pond, surrounded by leafless trees under a cloudy sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a quiet, wintry environment where the still surface of the ice supports a small gathering of birds. The barren trees, their branches extending upward, emphasize the season’s starkness while the birds introduce a subtle sign of life within the silence.
Technique & Style
Friis employs chiaroscuro to model light and shadow, giving the scene a sense of depth that guides the eye from the foreground pond to the distant sky. The restrained palette of muted whites, grays, and browns reinforces the cold atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1875, the painting entered the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing 19th‑century Danish landscape painting.
Artist & collection
