Winter Twilight by Wanda Gág

Winter Twilight 1927

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drawing, coloured-pencil, print

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drawing

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coloured-pencil

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print

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landscape

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coloured pencil

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cityscape

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watercolour illustration

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realism

Dimensions: 9 1/16 x 12 3/4 in. (23.02 x 32.39 cm) (image)11 3/8 x 13 13/16 in. (28.89 x 35.08 cm) (sheet)

Copyright: No Copyright - United States

Wanda Gág made this drawing, Winter Twilight, with crayon on paper. What strikes me is the way she’s built up the image with these little hatched marks. You can almost feel her hand moving back and forth, creating this dense, almost palpable surface. And look at the color! It’s a limited palette, mostly browns and grays, but she uses them to create such a rich, atmospheric effect. The snow isn't just white, it’s got all these subtle variations, these little flecks of color that make it feel so real. I love the way the lamplight glows, casting a warm, inviting glow on the scene. The whole thing feels like a memory, a fleeting moment captured in time. It reminds me of Edward Hopper's ability to find beauty and mystery in everyday scenes, but with a softer, more intimate touch. Art is a conversation across time and Winter Twilight opens a space of imagination, and wonder.

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Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

Poverty struck the Gág household when Wanda, the oldest of seven, was just 15: father Anton died of tuberculosis and mother Elisabeth grew frail soon after. Winter Twilight could represent Wanda’s dream of something different. Just one or two impressions of this print are known to bear her hand-coloring, and indeed the glowing windows seem to make the house even more welcoming. The absence of footsteps in the snow suggests that everyone is safely tucked away inside, snug and warm.

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