This work was painted during a visit to Sweden when Trägårdh was in fact based in France. He used his French experience to paint a Nordic motif. The softwood forest has become a pine forest and the light is different. The motif seems to have inspired Trägårdh, who rendered it with great empathy. The woodcutter is linked to the French working men motifs. Before the breakthrough of electricity, wood was totally vital if society was to function.