The artwork titled “Spring Day on Karl Johan Street” by Edvard Munch, painted in 1890, is an oil on canvas piece exemplifying the Impressionism movement. Its dimensions are 80 by 100 cm, and it falls under the genre painting category. The artwork is part of the collection at the Bergen Billedgalleri in Bergen, Norway.
“Spring Day on Karl Johan Street” captures a bustling urban scene, portraying the vibrant energy and activity of a city street. The painting depicts a perspective of Karl Johan Street in Oslo, lined with people and buildings under a dynamic, textured sky, which suggests movement and the fleeting nature of the moment. Munch employed a palette that combines warm and cool tones, capturing both the light of the city and the shadows cast by figures and structures. The artwork is composed with loose, expressive brushwork characteristic of Impressionism, focusing on light and its changing qualities rather than strict detail. The presence of people with parasols and others strolling suggests a leisurely atmosphere, typical of a warm spring day. Munch’s use of color, light, and swift brushstrokes serves to convey the impression of a moment caught in time, reflecting the transient visual experiences that define the genre painting’s intentions.