Rough Tree Trunks in the Snow
- Original dimensions
- 100.5 x 95.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1923
Scene depicted
This painting reveals a wintry scene where rough and impassive tree trunks stand proudly under a blanket of snow. The composition creates a striking contrast between the hardness of the forms and the softness of the immaculate white. Munch captures here an essence of nature, blending the tangible with the ethereal, inviting the viewer to dive into this palpable and silent universe.
Historical context
Created in 1923, the painting "Rough Tree Trunks in the Snow" embodies Nordic expressionism at the heart of the Norwegian winter. This canvas is part of the artistic movement that emerged at that time, where Munch, influenced by his environment and his own emotions, explores intimate and universal themes. Today, this painting is preserved at the Munch Museum in Oslo, where its impressive dimensions captivate visitors.
Place in the artist's career
"Rough Tree Trunks in the Snow" is a significant work in Munch's career, illustrating him at the peak of his expressionism . Alongside masterpieces like "The Scream" and "The Madonna," this painting reveals his evolution towards an advanced emotional abstraction, capturing universal feelings through delicate and powerful forms.
Anecdote
"Nature has always spoken to me like an old friend," Munch might have said, recalling that cold morning when he was inspired by the tree trunks lost in the snow. A solitude imbued with sweetness and introspection, this scene profoundly marked the artist, providing him with the emotional strength of a pictorial work that still resonates today.
Major exhibitions
Munch og Ekely: 1916-1944