Winter Landscape 1914

Ernest Lawson created this wintery scene with oil on canvas at some point in his career. Look how he’s built up the image through touch—a kind of soft dabbing that suggests a snow-covered landscape. I can almost feel the cold air! You can see the individual brushstrokes, how they combine to create a feeling of light and atmosphere. I imagine Lawson standing outside, battling the elements, trying to capture a fleeting moment. Maybe he was thinking about Monet, who painted his own winter scenes with that cool, atmospheric light. Notice how the colors are muted. The whites, greens, and browns blend into a harmonious whole. Yet within that harmony, Lawson has captured a real sense of depth and space. The way the river snakes through the landscape pulls you in. Painters like Lawson are part of a long conversation. They experiment with form and push the boundaries of perception, inviting us to see the world in new and exciting ways.