L’Hiver, esquisse pour l’Hôtel de Ville de Paris 1889 - 1892

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes painted this oil on canvas, ‘Winter,’ as a sketch for the Paris City Hall. Amidst the stark landscape, a fire burns. It is a powerful symbol of warmth, life, and community in the face of winter's desolation. The motif of fire as a beacon appears across cultures, from ancient Roman hearths tended by the Vestal Virgins to countless myths where fire represents divine knowledge or transformation. Consider Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods, or the eternal flame in temples, symbolizing unwavering devotion. Here, the figures huddled around the flames embody the human need for connection and survival, echoing prehistoric gatherings around a life-sustaining fire. The artist captures a primal scene, one that has resonated through the ages and continues to evoke deep-seated emotions of hope, resilience, and shared humanity. It demonstrates how even in the bleakest conditions, we seek solace in each other and in the symbolic power of fire. The cycle continues, as fire sparks new beginnings from the ashes of the old.