Pine Tree and Red House, Winter City 1924

Lawren Harris made "Pine Tree and Red House, Winter City" with paint, at some point in his career. What strikes me here is the gorgeous, almost graphic application of paint that gives the scene its solidity. Look closely at the way Harris builds up the texture, especially in the snow-laden branches. Each dab and stroke feels deliberate, contributing to this incredible tactile surface. The coolness of the snow against the fiery, almost cartoonish red of the house creates this electric kind of contrast. Notice how the branches arch and swoop, like hands gesturing; it's got this anthropomorphic feel. Harris's work in general—and this one in particular—reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley’s landscapes, both of them exploring the emotional resonance of place. Neither of them worried too much about perfect representation. Instead, they captured the essence of a scene, making these paintings resonate with something deeper.