New Snow on the Avenue
- Original dimensions
- 100.5 x 80 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1906
Scene depicted
The painting depicts the avenue of Oslo under a thick layer of snow. In a subtle play of light and shadow, Munch knows how to convey the serenity and mystery that this wintry atmosphere can provoke. The silhouettes of the trees, languid under the weight of the snow, merge into a harmonious tableau, inviting the viewer to stop, observe, and feel.
Historical context
Created in 1906 in Oslo, the capital of Norway, this painting belongs to the expressionist movement. Edvard Munch , a pioneer of this movement, captures not only a scene but an emotional moment, rooted in the historical context of a time marked by artistic and social upheavals. Today, the painting is housed in the Munch Museum, where it continues to evoke the ephemeral beauty of a landscape caught in the magic of snow.
Place in the artist's career
This canvas is situated at a significant turning point in Munch's career, where he begins to integrate elements of anxiety and soothing beauty. Compared to other works of his, such as The Scream and The Madonna , one perceives a stylistic evolution towards the expression of more nuanced emotions, yet always deeply human.
Anecdote
“I seek not only to see but to make feel,” said Munch, as he drew inspiration from a winter morning, while the snow fell silently on the avenue. This bright moment, tinged with melancholy, gave life to this iconic canvas . The softness of the flakes and the calm of a world covered in white blend into an invitation to contemplation and introspection.
Major exhibitions
Munch and France