Winter was painted by Conrad Meyer in 1649.

Where can I see Winter?

Winter is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Winter?

Winter is associated with Baroque.

Winter by Conrad Meyer (1649) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1649, *Winter* is a print by Swiss artist Conrad Meyer, executed through a combination of etching and engraving on laid paper. The work belongs to Meyer’s later period, when he concentrated on graphic production after an early career in portraiture and landscape painting. It exemplifies his shift toward the copper‑plate medium, a field in which he produced a prolific output.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a stark winter landscape dominated by a solitary, leafless tree whose branches are dusted with snow against a deep, somber sky. The delicate, lace‑like rendering of the branches conveys a sense of fragility and the quiet stillness associated with the season, inviting contemplation of nature’s muted beauty during the cold months.

Technique & Style

The process involved incising fine lines with a needle to create tonal variations, while deeper engraved strokes define the tree’s structure.

Meyer employed both etching and engraving on a copper plate, then transferred the design onto laid paper. The process involved incising fine lines with a needle to create tonal variations, while deeper engraved strokes define the tree’s structure. The resulting surface is covered with a network of minute ridges that capture subtle light and shadow, characteristic of 17th‑century Northern European printmaking.

History & Provenance

A pupil of the renowned engraver Matthäus Merian, Meyer began his artistic life in Zürich as a painter before turning to copper engraving. By the time he produced *Winter*, he had already completed hundreds of prints, and this work reflects his mature graphic style. The print has circulated among collections of early modern prints, though specific ownership records remain limited.

Context

The mid‑17th century saw a flourishing of printmaking in the Swiss and German regions, driven by demand for reproducible images that could reach a broader audience. Meyer’s *Winter* aligns with contemporary interests in seasonal motifs and landscape studies, echoing the broader Northern European fascination with depicting nature’s cycles through meticulous line work.