Snow 1969

Alex Colville made ‘Snow’ with what looks like meticulous care and a very specific colour palette, a kind of muted, earthy tone. What’s interesting about the piece is the texture. It feels almost as if he's built up the image dot by dot, creating a stippled effect that gives the skin and the room this tactile quality, like you could reach out and feel the roughness of the surface. The light is diffused and cool, giving this image a dreamlike feel, yet the scene is intimate. Look closely at how the woman's back is rendered, notice the subtle shading that suggests the curve of her spine. It's almost like he’s mapping out the terrain of the body. Colville reminds me a little of Edward Hopper, but with a more intimate and personal touch. There's this stillness, this quiet observation of everyday life, but with a deeper emotional resonance. He reminds us that art doesn't always need to shout, sometimes the most profound things are said in a whisper.