Johann Henrik Carl Berthelsen (1883 – 1972) was a late American Impressionist painter best known for his large, exquisitely rendered cityscapes, particularly New York City in winter. His works were often compared to those of Guy Wiggins (1883–1962) and Childe Hassam (1859–1935), though Berthelsen’s mastery of atmosphere, subtle traffic patterns, and compositional scope distinguished him from his contemporaries. Ironically, his first artistic passion was music, not painting, and he often referred to his snowscapes as “painted orchestrations” of Manhattan.

Berthelsen was born in Copenhagen on July 25, 1883, and immigrated to the United States with his family at age six. By 1901, he earned a full scholarship to study voice at the Chicago Musical College, graduating in 1905. He toured the United States and Canada as a baritone performing grand opera, light opera, and Gilbert and Sullivan works. From 1910 to 1913, he taught voice at the Chicago Musical College and later headed the voice department at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music (1913–1915) before opening his own studio.

While in Indianapolis, Berthelsen began painting under Wayman Adams (1883–1959), who became his instructor and inspiration. Adams praised the poetic quality and evocative feeling of Berthelsen’s work, particularly his nocturnes of Central Park and snowy New York streets 

Berthelsen moved to New York City in 1920, opening a studio at 200 West 57th Street in the Rodin Studios. During the 1920s, he painted in pastel and watercolor, creating sensitive nocturnes and cityscapes reminiscent of Whistler. His first recognition came with a pastel of Central Park, which won the Albert Erskine Prize at the Hoosier Salon (1928). His work in watercolor earned him membership in the American Watercolor Society (1926).

By 1932, at age forty-nine, Berthelsen devoted himself entirely to painting, with a brief hiatus during 1940–1942 when he worked with the Columbia Broadcast System Lecture Bureau. In 1942, he relocated to New Milford, Connecticut, painting landscapes and still lifes before returning to New York in 1950, where he continued to paint until 1970.

Berthelsen participated in the New Deal art projects of the mid-1930s and exhibited extensively at the Municipal Art Committee galleries in New York City, as well as in Indianapolis, Chicago, and other major venues. He painted cityscapes, often in snow, employing both thin and impasto techniques, and frequently included flags or taxis as compositional accents. While he did not study in France, Berthelsen was deeply influenced by French Impressionists, especially Claude Monet (1840–1926), which is evident in his treatment of light, atmospheric variation, and compositional color.

His works are “time capsules” of early twentieth-century urban life, capturing the daily energy, fashion, and habits of New York City. Berthelsen’s paintings remain highly sought after, and he is regarded as one of the most popular painters of New York City.

Johann Berthelsen died in April 1972 at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut.