NEW YEAR'S SNOW 1938

Eric Ravilious made this scene of ‘New Year’s Snow’ with watercolor and pen and ink, sketching out the winter landscape with what seems like a light touch. But look closer: there’s a real precision here, especially in the cross-hatching that defines the hills and sky, giving texture to the snow-dusted fields. Ravilious’ marks are meticulous. You get the feeling he really took his time observing the scene. See how the wagon in the foreground is rendered with such care, its lattice sides casting delicate shadows on the snow? It reminds me a little of Edward Bawden, another British artist who shared a similar eye for detail and a love of the everyday. Both artists see the world as something to be appreciated for its quiet beauty, even on a cold winter's day. Ultimately, this piece is less about a literal depiction of snow and more about Ravilious’ own way of seeing, thinking, and feeling the world around him.