Article

Enjoy Winter Art Favorites at the National Gallery

5 min read
A person and dog trudge through ankle-deep snow to approach a barn and farmhouse under a heavy, lead-gray sky in this horizontal landscape painting. The person has pale-toned skin and wears a brown hat and suit. He carries a sack over one shoulder and a handled basket looped over his other forearm. He walks away from us and to our right so the side of his face is painted with a triangular touch of peach. The dog is mostly brown with some gray spots. The pair approach a break in a stone wall built with light and dark gray boulders. Snow sits in the crooks of branches in barren trees and bushes to the left and right. A short distance away, six cows stand looking off to our left or nuzzle through the snow to find grass. A gray-sided, snow-topped barn is just beyond them to the right of center. More trees and other smaller structures are around and behind the barn. Another stone wall stretches from the right side of the barn and off the right edge of the painting. The main section of the three-story house to the left is butter yellow. A single-story structure jutting off the right side of the house is pale terracotta red. Laundry hangs on a line outside the house, and a person, also wearing brown, stands nearby. On the roofs, the snow is painted white where the low sun falls and mauve-pink where it falls into shadow. The distant horizon, which comes about a third of the way up this composition, is lined with slate-gray hills. A strip of warm yellow light lines the horizon beneath piles of gray clouds that mostly obscure a lavender-blue sky. The artist signed the painting as if he had inscribed a boulder in the lower right corner, “DURRIE N HAVEN.”
George Henry Durrie, Winter in the Country, c. 1858, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1994.59.1

The coldest season of the year is upon us—at least in the northern hemisphere.

With over 150,000 works in our collection, only 2 percent are on view at any given time. So, this winter, we've selected some of our favorites from more than 100 winter-themed artworks in our collection for you to enjoy online.

Explore snowy, rural scenes from American painters of the 1800s, playful abstract drawings by 20th-century artists, and searing images of winter captured by contemporary photographers. We hope you’ll enjoy these works and share them with family and friends.

Looking for more ways to celebrate? Visit our ice rink and enjoy other programs and events this season.

  • A person and dog trudge through ankle-deep snow to approach a barn and farmhouse under a heavy, lead-gray sky in this horizontal landscape painting. The person has pale-toned skin and wears a brown hat and suit. He carries a sack over one shoulder and a handled basket looped over his other forearm. He walks away from us and to our right so the side of his face is painted with a triangular touch of peach. The dog is mostly brown with some gray spots. The pair approach a break in a stone wall built with light and dark gray boulders. Snow sits in the crooks of branches in barren trees and bushes to the left and right. A short distance away, six cows stand looking off to our left or nuzzle through the snow to find grass. A gray-sided, snow-topped barn is just beyond them to the right of center. More trees and other smaller structures are around and behind the barn. Another stone wall stretches from the right side of the barn and off the right edge of the painting. The main section of the three-story house to the left is butter yellow. A single-story structure jutting off the right side of the house is pale terracotta red. Laundry hangs on a line outside the house, and a person, also wearing brown, stands nearby. On the roofs, the snow is painted white where the low sun falls and mauve-pink where it falls into shadow. The distant horizon, which comes about a third of the way up this composition, is lined with slate-gray hills. A strip of warm yellow light lines the horizon beneath piles of gray clouds that mostly obscure a lavender-blue sky. The artist signed the painting as if he had inscribed a boulder in the lower right corner, “DURRIE N HAVEN.”
  • This painting shows a bustling narrow street. Tall tenements are on either side in shades of red and brown. Fire escapes and clothing hang from the sides of the buildings. The street below is covered in white snow. A couple in coats stands among other passersby, and horse-drawn cart is pulled down the street. In the background, the buildings converge at the end of the long street below an icy blue sky.
  • The image displays swirling and flowing shapes in a dynamic composition. The design features earthy tones with splashes of red, green, and blue. The shapes resemble organic forms like waves or smoke. Some areas evoke textures of a rocky landscape or marbled surface. There is a visual complexity with intertwining colors similar to natural stone patterns or weathered surfaces.
  • This painting displays overlapping shapes and lines in an abstract composition. Across the painting are thick lines of dark green-blue paint that blend together to create thick dark patches. Around these abstract forms are lighter patches of yellow, aquamarine, lavender, peach, and bright green. The colors overlap and blend together. Across all these shapes are thin black vertical lines and small spots and splatters of paint. The background is light yellow paper.
  • The image depicts a city street with buildings and pedestrians. The composition shows a road with buildings in the background. Some smoke rises from chimneys aligned with the building roofs. The detailed linear style suggests a misty atmosphere, likely created through etching or engraving. The monochrome grey color scheme adds to the somber mood, with reflections hinting at rain. Horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians with umbrellas are in motion on the street. The buildings on the right show vertical and horizontal lines for texture and depth.
  • The image depicts a snow-covered landscape with a winding path leading into the distance. The horizon is obscured by a line of leafless trees and dense shrubbery. Several trees with bare branches and snow-laden evergreens are visible. The trees and path show intricate texture, with fine detail in the snow and branches. The color palette is monochromatic and utilizes a sepia tone, giving the scene a vintage and serene effect.
  • The image shows a snowy street lined with stone buildings, some with pointed roofs and snow-covered tops. The horizon is not distinctly visible as the street curves gently to the right, disappearing behind the buildings. Two figures dressed in winter clothing are walking, leaving footprints in the snow. The buildings have detailed stonework, indicated by varied shading and small brush-like strokes that create texture. The sky above is a light gray, blending with the snow-covered scene. Branches of a leafless tree stretch into the right portion of the image. The color palette is monochromatic, with varying shades of gray and soft white, creating a serene and cold winter atmosphere.
  • The image shows a snowy village from an aerial perspective. The landscape includes mountains in the distance, buildings with snow-covered roofs, a road with a horse-drawn carriage, bare trees, and a monochromatic color palette of mostly gray and black, with white snow.
  • This print depicts a winter scene from a slightly elevated perspective. The view captures a group of people engaging in various activities on a frozen river surrounded by snow-covered hills and trees, some bare and some with green needles. In the distance, a wooden bridge spans the frozen water, and distant houses, trees, and birds are seen against gentle snowy hills under soft sunlight. At the bottom of the painting, some people sled down a hill onto the frozen water while others skate on the ice. The people wear warm buttoned coats in shades of yellow, green, brown, and blue. Some wear brown hats and red scarves. In the bottom right corner, large chunks have been taken out of the ice, and thin cracks form. The painting has a color palette of blues and whites, contrasting with warm tones from the clothing of the people. The cloudy sky above is mostly gray with some patches of pale blue peeking through. At the bottom a line of text reads "AMERICAN WINTER SCENES."
  • This print shows a large chalet-style building in a snow-covered landscape. Snow-laden gray mountains loom in the background above the building, the walls of which are colored in brown, pale yellow, and pale green. The pointed roof of the building is covered in snow, as are the roofs of the smaller buildings surrounding it. A red-and-white flag appears to fly from the largest building. A wooden fence is partially visible at the bottom of the print, cutting through the snow and leading toward the building. The sky above is bright blue. The print is surrounded by a border of off-white paper.
  • The image shows a snowy path with bare trees overhead. In the distance, there are buildings against a twilight sky transitioning from yellows to grays. The brushstrokes or drawing techniques give the scene an ethereal quality. The color palette includes cooler blues and whites in the foreground contrasting with warmer golden hues near the buildings and streetlamps. Footprints lead to a bench with a lone figure in the distance.
  • The image depicts a winter scene from an elevated perspective. A snow-covered parkway is seen with barren trees lining it. Close to the viewer, there is an ornate snow-covered fence leading into the park area. A path through the snow directs the gaze towards the distance where trees fade into the horizon. Buildings on the left are partly hidden by trees, with faint architectural details visible. The monochromatic palette of sepia tones creates a serene atmosphere, highlighting the contrast between snow-laden branches and the muted background. The photo conveys a sense of stillness associated with snowfall.
  • The image shows a cathedral with twin towers, a river, and snow-covered buildings. The cathedral towers over the scene, viewed from a low angle. The background contains rooftops meeting the sky, with a river reflecting the buildings. A snow-covered structure is near the water. The landscape is covered in snow, with sepia tones giving an old-fashioned feel. The cathedral spires reach towards the sky, surrounded by snow-covered trees. A bare tree branch frames the scene on the left.
  • The photograph shows a snow-covered parking lot viewed from a slightly elevated angle. Trees and a hill in the distance are visible at the top of the image. Various vehicles are parked in the lot, including a Chevrolet truck, a compact car, and a Frito-Lay delivery truck. Leafless trees stand behind the vehicles. The scene is in shades of white and dark tones, emphasizing the snowy landscape and vehicles.
  • The image displays a winter scene with leafless trees covered in snow. The trees are scattered, with dark trunks and branches contrasting against the white snow. Evergreen trees in the distance add depth to the composition. The color palette is monochromatic, emphasizing the starkness of the landscape. The image conveys a cold, snowy atmosphere with a sense of tranquility.
  • This is a photograph of two figures walking through slushy, wet ground. The image captures the textured surface of the ground, marked by patches of snow or slush, as well as wet areas forming puddles. The ground reflects the figures casting dark reflections beneath their legs. The composition uses high contrast between the figures and the scene. The photograph captures motion and the texture of the slush and water, along with ripples in the puddles. The lighting highlights the reflective surface.
  • This is a black and white photograph of a snowy scene with figures gathered under an umbrella. In the image, a group of figures is gathered closely together under a single umbrella while heavy snow falls around them. They wear long coats and hats covered in snow, which stand out against the vast white backdrop created by the snow. The figures' backs are mostly turned towards the camera. In the background, an architectural structure can be seen, slightly obscured by the snowfall. The snow and overcast sky create a soft, diffused light that gently illuminates the scene.
  • The image shows a row of metal chairs stacked together in a snowy environment. The point of view is slightly elevated, looking down at the chairs. The horizon merges with a line of trees stretching into the distance. Snow-covered trees provide a backdrop, adding texture and pattern. The chairs are heavily dusted with snow, revealing their metalwork. The black and white palette emphasizes the contrast between the chairs and the snow. The snow-dusted trees create vertical lines that lead the eye into the background, evoking a wintery atmosphere.
  • The image features distorted lines creating an abstract composition. Large icicles are at the center of the image, resembling glass sculptures of frozen water. The icicles cast reflections and shadows resembling delicate stalactites. In the background, there is a vague structure resembling a building, adding depth to the scene.
  • This is a photograph of a team of sled dogs in a snowy forest. The image shows a group of Husky-type dogs harnessed and ready for pulling a sled through a wintry landscape. The forest is dense with tall, bare trees, and the ground is covered with a thick layer of snow. The dogs appear attentive and energetic. The black and white tones highlight the contrast between the dogs' thick fur and the snow-covered environment. The presence of sled traces and the positioning of the dogs suggest a moment of preparation or a pause during a sledding expedition.
  • The image depicts a man from the waist up, standing in a snowy forest. He is leaning back with his face tilted upwards, eyes closed, and mouth open. Snow-covered branches partially obscure his facial features. The man has a middle-aged complexion with short hair covered by a beanie and is wearing a thick jacket with a visible brand logo. The surroundings consist of densely-packed trees with branches covered in fresh snow, contrasting with the darker bark. The background is dominated by bright snow, implying a cold, clear day.
  • The image shows an urban winter scene with a pedestrian path covered in fresh snow. Park benches, an iron fence, and snow-laden trees line the path. A person in winter clothing walks away from the viewer. Falling snow obscures tall buildings in the background. The overall color scheme is monochromatic and serene.

While we are closed on December 25 and January 1, you can plan your visit for any other day. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Want more winter art? Browse our winter art prints for sale.

 

Top image: George Henry Durrie, Winter in the Country, c. 1858, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1994.59.1

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We look slightly down onto a scene showing light-skinned men, women, and children ice skating on a frozen river in this horizontal landscape painting. We get the impression of hundreds of people gathered on the ice creating a crowd that extends into the hazy distance. The couple dozen closest to us are the most defined. A few clusters of people and individuals in particular draw our attention. For example, a group of three men wearing dark cloaks and hats stand in conversation on our right. Two boys nearby hold sticks and play a game similar to hockey. A small child holds two smaller sticks, perhaps to help balance. A man in the front center wears puffy scarlet-red pants with white stockings, a red jacket, and a tall brown hat with a cloud of scarlet feathers. He stands next to a woman wearing a black hooded cloak over a black skirt and raspberry-pink bodice. She tucks her hands into a cylindrical muffler held at her waist. Another elegantly dressed man in golden yellows and black and a woman in mauve pink and butter yellow stand nearby. Some of people throughout the scene wear white frilly collars and others are more simply dressed in shades of brown, gray, and black. To our right, a faded rose-red windmill stands at the river’s edge, and to our left a large house with steeply pitched and stepped roofs is enclosed within a solid fence painted with pink diamonds against black and white. Smoke rises from one chimney, and other houses and a church line the riverbank into the distance. A wooden bridge near a grove of bare trees connects spit of land near us in the lower left corner with the village beyond. Brilliant azure-blue sky is visible through breaks in the steel-gray clouds above.

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