Description
Johann Berthelsen “Macy’s in Winter” Oil Painting | New York City American Impressionism
An atmospheric New York City winter painting by Johann Berthelsen (1883–1972), the celebrated Danish-born American Impressionist renowned for his poetic depictions of Manhattan beneath falling snow.
Titled “Macy’s in Winter,” this evocative oil on canvas captures the energy of New York during a winter snowfall. Crowds of pedestrians move through the snow-covered streets beneath the monumental architecture of Manhattan, while flashes of red from American flags enliven Berthelsen’s restrained palette of silvery gray, ivory, brown, and softly muted tones.
Signed by the artist at the lower right, the painting demonstrates the qualities for which Berthelsen’s New York scenes are especially admired: atmosphere, movement, expressive brushwork, and the transformation of the modern city through snow and changing light.
Berthelsen was particularly fascinated by New York in winter. Snow allowed him to soften the imposing architecture of Manhattan while capturing the movement of pedestrians, automobiles, flags, streetlights, and everyday city life. His distinctive winter scenes have become among the most recognizable examples of 20th-century American urban Impressionism.
With its iconic New York subject, strong architectural composition, bustling street activity, and atmospheric winter palette, Macy’s in Winter would make an impressive addition to a collection of American Impressionism, New York City paintings, Manhattan cityscapes, American urban art, or 20th-century American painting.
Artist: Johann Berthelsen (Danish-American, 1883–1972)
Title: Macy’s in Winter
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signature: Signed lower right
Sight Dimensions: 16 x 20 inches
Framed Dimensions: 23 1/4 x 27 1/2 inches
About Johann Berthelsen
Johann Berthelsen (1883–1972) was a Danish-born American Impressionist painter whose atmospheric paintings of New York City—particularly Manhattan transformed by falling snow—became the defining subject of his artistic career.
Born in Copenhagen, Berthelsen immigrated to the United States as a child. Interestingly, his first professional career was not painting but music. A gifted baritone, he studied at the Chicago Musical College, toured the United States and Canada as a professional singer, and later taught voice at the Chicago Musical College and headed the voice department at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music.
Painting remained an important parallel interest. After moving to New York in 1920, Berthelsen produced watercolors and pastels of the city and was elected to the American Watercolor Society in the 1920s. Following the economic upheaval of the Great Depression, he increasingly devoted himself to painting in oils. (Berthelsen Art)
New York became his great recurring subject. Berthelsen developed a distinctive style for depicting the city’s avenues, parks, landmarks, crowds, and monumental architecture beneath snow. His muted grays, ivories, blues, and earth tones allowed buildings and figures to emerge through the atmosphere, while brighter accents brought movement and vitality to his compositions. (Hickory Museum of Art)
During his lifetime, Berthelsen’s work attracted prominent collectors, and examples of his paintings entered public collections. Today, his snow-filled Manhattan scenes remain his signature works and continue to appeal to collectors of American Impressionism and historic New York City art. (Berthelsen Art)
Discover Macy’s in Winter by Johann Berthelsen, a signed oil on canvas depicting snowy New York City. A classic example of American Impressionist urban painting.
