New England Hillside, Winter, Gorham, New Hampshire 19th-20th century

Editor: Dodge Macknight's watercolor, "New England Hillside, Winter, Gorham, New Hampshire," depicts a snowy landscape with vibrant colors. The scene feels both serene and alive. What symbols or meanings do you find present in this work? Curator: The snow, often associated with purity and stillness, is subverted here. Macknight's use of blues and violets in the shadows suggests a hidden energy, a memory of warmer seasons beneath the surface. The trees, especially the evergreens, represent resilience and eternal life, standing firm against the winter's harshness. Editor: So, despite the winter setting, the painting evokes a sense of ongoing life and latent energy? Curator: Precisely. Macknight uses familiar winter imagery, but infuses it with a vibrant palette, reminding us that even in the depths of winter, life persists and renewal awaits. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It enriches my understanding of the artwork. Curator: Indeed. The symbols speak not just of winter's stillness, but of the enduring spirit of nature.