Gezicht op een bergwand met sneeuw 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet made this small vista of a snow-covered mountain range sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I love the way he’s rendered the scene in soft, almost ethereal tones. It feels like a memory, or a dream. The texture in this piece is everything. The artist’s hand seems to have delighted in the subtle variations of the snow’s surface. Look at the way the light catches those small ridges and valleys. It's as if Burdet is reminding us that even in the most uniform of landscapes, there's endless complexity and beauty to be found. This work makes me think of the Japanese artist Hokusai, especially his series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji." Both artists share an interest in capturing the sublime power and beauty of nature. Like all great art, this small painting invites us to slow down, observe, and find wonder in the world around us.