Rugged Trunks in Snow 1923 - 1925

Edvard Munch painted these Rugged Trunks in Snow with oil on canvas, using a limited palette of whites, greens, and browns. The brushwork is very visible, creating a textured surface where you can almost feel the cold. Munch doesn't try to hide his process, the quick, gestural strokes capture the raw essence of the winter landscape. The snow isn’t just white; it’s layered with blues and greys, giving depth and a sense of chill. See how the trunks are not just brown but have hints of green, suggesting a life persisting beneath the snow. Look at the way he suggests the weight of the snow on the branches with just a few strokes of white. It’s this economy of means that makes the painting so evocative. Munch's approach reminds me of Van Gogh, both artists used the visible marks of paint to evoke emotion. It's like he’s saying, “Here’s the scene, but also, here’s how it feels to be in it.” And isn’t that what art is all about?