Comment:
It is reasonable to interpret a sketch like this one, with colour specifications and notes, as part of the process leading to a finished work of art, often a painting. And in this case we have two paintings that fit very well, both compositionally and with regard to the colour specifications. Both are entitled "Red House and Spruces" and are dated 1927 in Gerd Woll’s catalogue raisonné over Munch’s paintings (Woll 1618 and 1619).

On the other hand, with little reliable evidence the dating is uncertain. The paper this sketch is drawn on was produced by Emil Moestue AS, who started a paper factory in 1928 and eventually developed quality types of paper, such as this ruffled variety with the "Atlantis" watermark. Paper with an identical watermark is found in nine of Munch’s notes, all with the dating 1942 or 1943, as well as in two drawings (T 2223 and 2834). One of them has a verified dating at 1943. Based on the "technical evidence" it is therefore reasonable to date this sketch at 1942-43. There are two explanations for this: either the two paintings are dated too early, or that the sketch for some reason was executed after the paintings.