Artwork
Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather
Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting thus represents both a literal depiction of Copenhagen street life and an emblem of the unidealized realism that defined his late genre work.
Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather presents an everyday urban encounter rendered in the conventions of genre painting. The composition centers on a man and a woman navigating inclement weather, their figures braced against the elements of rain and wind. A sett, a type of paving stone, anchors the foreground, while a brick wall frames the scene and reinforces the sense of a confined city street.
The figures carry a basket, a bag, and an umbrella, ordinary objects that emphasize the practical, working-class character of the moment. Rather than dramatizing the storm, Eckersberg uses these humble accessories to record a transient, weather-bound episode of daily life, transforming a routine struggle against the elements into a study of contemporary urban experience. The painting thus represents both a literal depiction of Copenhagen street life and an emblem of the unidealized realism that defined his late genre work.
Technique & Style
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg executed Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather in 1846 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work is classified as a genre scene, measuring 34.8 centimeters in height and 26.6 centimeters in width. Stylistically, the painting captures the atmospheric effects of inclement weather, depicting specific elements such as rain and wind alongside figures holding umbrellas and various objects like baskets and bags.
The composition reflects the artist's focus on everyday life, integrating these formal elements within a compact format typical of the period's genre art.
History & Provenance
The painting Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst. The work is listed under the museum's holdings, though no specific accession or inventory number is provided in the available documentation. Created in 1846 by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, the oil on canvas measures 34.8 × 26.6 cm. Exhibition records are likewise absent from the source material, indicating that the piece has not been publicly exhibited in the contexts described herein.
Overview
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, often recognized as the "Father of Danish painting," completed Street Scene in Windy and Rainy Weather in 1846. This oil painting exemplifies the Biedermeier movement through its depiction of an ordinary moment. The artwork is a significant example of Eckersberg's contribution to Danish art history and is currently housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg's influence earned him the title "Father of Danish painting," reflecting his foundational role in the country's art tradition. This work, created in 1846, is a product of the Biedermeier era, a period characterized by an appreciation for domesticity, everyday life, and a detailed, realistic artistic approach. The painting thus reflects broader cultural and artistic trends of its time in Denmark.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (2 January 1783 – 22 July 1853) was a Danish painter.
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