This outstanding, large-scale impressionist snow scene of New York's Flatiron Building was composed by the Danish-born artist Johann Henrik Carl Berthelsen. A master of the American Impressionist movement, Johann Berthelsen's wintertime scenes perfectly portrays the beauty and ambiance of snowfall in the city under a veil of blinding flurries. Heavily influenced by the Impressionists of France, Berthelsen sacrifices the details of the cityscape in favor of atmosphere. The painting's blue- and grey-toned monochrome palette conveys to perfection both the coolness and peacefulness of a winter's afternoon.

While the Impressionist movement found its beginnings in France in the 19th century, the style soon penetrated the American art scene, where the style was imbued with a spirit of patriotism and optimism. Berthelsen's urban landscapes are the perfect example of this progression, as his paintings of the urban landscape exude a hopefulness and beauty in each impressionistic stroke. Born in Copenhagen in 1883, Berthelsen moved to New York City in 1920, at which time he began to paint these iconic cityscapes, exhibiting a perceptive sensitivity to shifting environmental elements, including weather, light, and atmosphere. Considering Berthelsen status as an immigrant in America, his emotive scenes that depict hopefulness and vibrancy gain a distinctive poignancy.
These iconic, sentimental New York winter scenes epitomize Berthelsen's impressive oeuvre. His fascination with the city resonates through his work, and his iconic scenes such as this one are highly prized.