Snow and Shadows (Scottish Highlands) 1955

Norma Morgan created this engraving titled 'Snow and Shadows (Scottish Highlands)' in 1955. The composition is dominated by a stark contrast between light and dark, immediately drawing the eye into a landscape rendered in intricate detail. The heavy blacks of the foreground give way to lighter tones suggesting snow-covered surfaces, all under a textured, brooding sky. Morgan's masterful use of engraving brings forth a tactile quality; one can almost feel the ruggedness of the terrain. This textural contrast isn't just descriptive, it embodies a semiotic interplay between the known and unknown, revealed and concealed. The shadows are not mere absences of light; they are active participants, shaping our perception and highlighting the interplay between form and void. The formal structure destabilizes conventional landscape expectations. It reflects a deeper philosophical engagement with how we perceive and interpret our surroundings. The tension between these elements invites continuous re-evaluation.