A Quebec Village Street, Winter 1920

Clarence Gagnon painted "A Quebec Village Street, Winter" with oil on canvas, and you can really see the process in the final image. There's a looseness to the mark making, a quality you might expect from a sketch rather than a finished piece. The texture is built up with visible brushstrokes. In some areas, like the snow, the paint seems applied wet-on-wet, creating soft, blended edges. But elsewhere, like in the trees, the brushwork is much more defined, with drier strokes that catch the light. Notice how the light blue and white of the snow shadows are applied with short, choppy strokes, giving it a dynamic, almost vibrating quality. This use of broken color adds depth and movement. I think Gagnon is really trying to capture a feeling, an essence, rather than a photographic likeness. This reminds me a little of Bonnard, or even Vuillard, but with a Canadian twist! Ultimately, it’s a painting that celebrates the joy of seeing and the pleasure of making.