The Sunken Road in Winter

Othon Friesz, 1913

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Artist: Othon Friesz (French, 1879–1949)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 81 × 65 cm
Museum: SMK – National Gallery of Denmark
Rights: Public Domain Mark

A muted palette of browns and a web of black contours tell us that the structure of the landscape was of particular interest to the artist. Friesz was a close friend of Dufy and Braque, whom he had known since childhood. In 1906 he and Braque discovered Fauvism with its pure colours and broad brushstrokes, and they soon became part of the group.

Like many of the other Fauvists, however, he changed course in 1907 and, very much inspired by Cézanne, became interested in planes, volumes, and structure. His work took on a new, more serious aspect. French masters from the past, particularly Nicolas Poussin, also became important sources of inspiration. Friesz’s paintings continue an old tradition while placing new emphasis on an often expressively charged rhythm and structure.