Title in Swedish: Staden – (August Strindberg) ◄ Previous Next ►

Artist: August Strindberg

Date: 1903

Size: 530 x 945 cm

Museum: Nationalmuseum (Stockholm, Sweden)

Technique: Oil On Canvas

We see a dark landscape dominated by a sky filled with monumental cloud formations in white, black and grey. The lower part of the painting comprises an expanse of water, and in the foreground a dark shore. In the background, on the horizon, we get a glimpse of a city. A dome rises up above the other buildings and is reflected in the water. If you look carefully, you can see that the artist applied the paint with a palette knife rather than brushes. It looks like the paint has been spread over the surface the way you might spread butter on bread.We can hardly see this painting as a true depiction of reality, although the city on the horizon may be reminiscent of Venice or Stockholm. It almost looks as if the city is floating on the water, like a mirage. The dramatic sky, the hint of a city silhouette and the shockingly dark colour palette combine to give the impression of a fantasy or a vision. What is the painting expressing? One might see it as threatening, with its foreboding and dramatically stormy sky. The painting may also convey a sense of distance and alienation. The city – perhaps a symbol of civilisation, culture and life – is a long way off. As we look at the city, we find ourselves in an unidentified dark landscape far removed from civilised society.