Afternoon Sun, Baie-Saint-Paul 1924

Clarence Gagnon painted this winter scene, “Afternoon Sun, Baie-Saint-Paul,” using traditional oil paints on canvas. The material qualities of oil paint allow for rich textures and colors. Gagnon applied paint in short, deliberate strokes to capture the way sunlight filters through the snow-covered landscape. This impasto technique creates a tactile surface that mimics the uneven texture of snow. The brushstrokes convey the chill of a winter afternoon, evoking the quiet stillness of the village. While Gagnon’s subject matter is seemingly traditional, the choice to highlight the texture and materiality of the paint itself invites us to consider painting as a craft, one that requires a skilled engagement with materials and processes. It's easy to overlook the labor involved in the production of such a work, especially in its seeming simplicity. By emphasizing the physicality of the paint, Gagnon elevates the everyday craft of painting to the realm of fine art.