Moonlight, Quebec 1922

Clarence Gagnon created "Moonlight, Quebec" using oil paint to capture a winter's night. The cool blues and whites create a hushed, dreamlike quality, as if the scene exists just beyond the edge of wakefulness. Up close, the paint is applied with visible brushstrokes, giving the snow a tactile, almost fluffy texture. Look at the way Gagnon uses short, choppy strokes to build up the snow on the rooftops, contrasting with the smoother, blended areas of the sky. It's as if he's inviting us to feel the crispness of the air and the crunch of snow underfoot. The warm glow emanating from the windows hints at life and shelter within, a cozy contrast to the stillness of the night. Gagnon's ability to evoke atmosphere reminds me of Edward Hopper, both artists capturing fleeting moments of quiet contemplation. But where Hopper often focuses on isolation, Gagnon offers a sense of peaceful solitude. His painting reminds us that even in the darkest of nights, there is beauty to be found.