In the Laurentians, Winter 1910

Clarence Gagnon made this painting of the Laurentians, in winter, with oil on canvas. I can only imagine what it was like to stand in that snow, staring at the mountains and those adorable little houses. I like to think Gagnon was trying to capture the feeling of a perfect, crisp winter day; the sky so blue you can almost taste it. He’s used these thick strokes of white and yellow to evoke the snow-covered fields, with dabs of bright colour that suggest the warmth of the little houses nestled into the landscape. He definitely didn’t blend things too much; it is more like a collection of moments. The mountains in the background are these big, bold shapes. They remind me of some Matisse cut-outs; but what I love is that they really anchor the whole composition, giving the eye a place to rest. You can feel the crispness of the air and the silence of the landscape in this painting. It’s like a little jewel that reflects the beauty and simplicity of nature.