Février 1896 - 1898

Eugène Grasset made this print, "Février," sometime in his career. The scene is defined by the verticality of the ladder set against the woman who prunes a tree. The print is a formal study in contrasts. Notice the geometric linearity of the ladder which contrasts with the organic branching patterns of the winter trees. Grasset uses a muted palette, yet the composition feels vibrant. The woman's dark coat, juxtaposed with her patterned skirt, draws your eye across the space. The composition has a semiotic structure. The act of pruning, a controlled intervention in nature, symbolizes the delicate balance between order and organic form. The barren trees against the snowdrops speak to the transitional state of February, which engages with the theme of transformation. This is not a static scene, but one charged with potential.