Who painted Chestnut Trees in Moonlight?

Chestnut Trees in Moonlight was painted by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1904.

Where can I see Chestnut Trees in Moonlight?

Chestnut Trees in Moonlight is held by National Gallery of Art.

Can I buy a print of Chestnut Trees in Moonlight?

Museum-quality prints of Chestnut Trees in Moonlight are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Chestnut Trees in Moonlight

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner , 1904

Chestnut Trees in Moonlight is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:bottom left by later hand in green pencil: Schiefler I S.2, Nr 2; bottom center verso by later hand in graphite: [partially erased] )23-6

About this work

Overview

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s 1904 color woodcut Chestnut Trees in Moonlight presents a nocturnal landscape dominated by towering chestnut trunks against a muted sky. Rendered in a limited palette of reddish‑brown, blue and green, the image balances dark foliage with a pale, slightly yellowed horizon, creating a quiet, atmospheric scene.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moonlit night where the silhouettes of chestnut trees dominate the foreground, separated from a soft, blue‑tinged sky by a low fence or wall. The stark contrast between the deep, almost black trunks and the gentle sky suggests a contemplation of nature’s stillness under the subtle illumination of night.

Technique & Style

Kirchner employed a color woodcut process, carving separate blocks for each hue and printing them in succession. The method leaves visible wood grain and line work, giving the surface a tactile, uneven quality that differs from the smoothness of oil painting. The limited color range and bold outlines reflect the expressionist emphasis on emotional impact over realistic detail.

History & Provenance

Created during Kirchner’s early career, the print predates his involvement with Die Brücke, the Berlin‑based group that helped define German Expressionism.

Created during Kirchner’s early career, the print predates his involvement with Die Brücke, the Berlin‑based group that helped define German Expressionism. After World War I, Kirchner suffered a mental breakdown, and under the Nazi regime his works were labeled “degenerate,” leading to their removal from public collections. The print’s survival reflects its passage through these turbulent periods.

Context

Chestnut Trees in Moonlight emerges from a period when German artists were seeking new visual languages to convey inner experience. Kirchner’s choice of woodcut, a medium traditionally associated with folk art, aligned with Die Brücke’s aim to break from academic conventions and to foreground raw, direct expression in both subject and technique.