Edvard Munch’s artwork titled “The Yellow Log” from 1912 embodies the ethos of Expressionism with its oil on canvas medium. Measuring 29 x 160.5 cm, this landscape genre painting is part of the collection at the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. Its dimensions and medium contribute to the vivid execution of a winter scene that is as emotive as it is visually captivating.
The artwork features a snowy landscape punctuated by slender, dark-leafed pine trees that stand in contrast to the thick blanket of snow on the ground. A prominent yellow log lies in the foreground, its color providing a stark juxtaposition against the white and blue hues of the snow and shadows. Unconventional color application, characteristic of Munch’s style, conveys an emotional atmosphere rather than a realistic depiction of the scene. The vertical composition of the trunks leads the eye through the painting, evoking a sense of stillness amidst the chill of winter, as well as the solitude of the natural world. Brushstrokes are visible and create a sense of movement, while the patterns on the tree trunks add to the painting’s expressive quality.