Halstead Road in Snow 1935

Eric Ravilious created this watercolour titled, Halstead Road in Snow, at an unknown date. The road curves like a question mark, doesn't it? And the whole scene is covered in polka dots of snow. Did Ravilious stand outside in the cold, patiently dabbing at the paper, capturing the stillness? I imagine he was trying to find the magic in the ordinary, turning a simple street into something dreamy. He doesn’t lay the paint on thick; it's thin and washy. Almost like he’s letting the paper breathe. The houses have a soft, golden glow, inviting and warm. And, man, the snow tracks! They lead your eye right into the heart of the painting, making you wonder where they’re going. Ravilious was a master of observation, just quietly noticing the world around him and inviting us to do the same. He makes me want to pick up my brushes and find the extraordinary in my own backyard.