The artwork titled “Mountains and Houses in the Snow” is an oil on canvas painting created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner around 1924. Representing the Expressionist art movement, this landscape genre painting is held in the Bündner Kunstmuseum in Chur, Switzerland.
The painting captures a dynamic and stylized winter scene dominated by bold, sweeping lines that define the snow-covered mountains and the angular houses nestled within the landscape. The use of contrasting colors highlights the interplay between the natural environment and human habitation. The mountains feature shades of blue and white that suggest the cold, snowy terrain, while the houses are depicted in warmer tones of yellow and brown, conveying a sense of shelter and warmth against the harsh outdoor elements. The artwork reflects Kirchner’s characteristic expressionist style with its energetic brushstrokes and a palette that emphasizes mood and atmosphere over realistic coloration. The composition is rhythmic, and the perspective seems slightly flattened, a technique often used by Expressionists to focus on the emotional impact of the scene rather than its physical accuracy.