Artwork
Copenhagen: Roofs Under the Snow
Copenhagen: Roofs Under the Snow is an oil painting by Peder Severin Krøyer. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work captures a quiet streetscape where snow blankets the rooftops, muted pinks and whites contrasting with dark wooden window frames.
Peder Severin Krøyer’s 1893 oil painting Copenhagen: Roofs Under the Snow presents a winter view of the Danish capital. The work captures a quiet streetscape where snow blankets the rooftops, muted pinks and whites contrasting with dark wooden window frames. The sky is rendered in a pale, hazy tone, giving the scene a subdued, chilly atmosphere. The painting belongs to the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the everyday architecture of Copenhagen, emphasizing the interplay of light and snow on sloping roofs. By limiting the visual field to rooftops and distant trees, Krøyer conveys a sense of stillness and the quietude of a cold, overcast day. The subtle color palette underscores the muted ambience of winter, inviting contemplation of the city’s seasonal character.
Technique & Style
Krøyer employs impasto in selected areas, building up thick layers of paint to suggest the texture of freshly fallen snow. The overall handling of oil is restrained, with soft brushwork that blends the sky and background into a hazy veil. The muted tonal range and delicate handling of light reflect the artist’s interest in atmospheric effects typical of late‑19th‑century Scandinavian realism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1893, Copenhagen: Roofs Under the Snow entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains on view. The painting’s acquisition history traces back to the museum’s early 20th‑century efforts to broaden its European holdings, though specific details of its prior ownership are not widely documented.
Artist & collection
