In the Clearing, Charlevoix 1915

Curator: Here we have Clarence Gagnon's "In the Clearing, Charlevoix," painted in 1915. Gagnon, a key figure in Canadian art, captures a winter landscape with a focus on the interplay of light and shadow. Editor: Brisk! That’s the first word that leaps to mind. And a touch lonely. The stark blues and whites suggest such cold! Even the trees seem huddled together for warmth. Curator: Absolutely. Gagnon employed an impasto technique, which means he applied thick layers of oil paint, to give texture and depth to the snow-covered ground and the trees. This really brings the scene to life. The brushstrokes themselves almost become little sculptures. Editor: Yes, you can almost feel the bite of the wind, can’t you? It reminds me of that particular, piercing winter light – that feeling of crisp, clean air just before a snowstorm fully hits. I imagine this place holds particular meaning to the artist... Curator: Charlevoix, in Quebec, was a frequent subject of Gagnon’s work. He really saw something in the landscape of his home, the quaint villages but mostly the way light plays off the snow and hills. It’s also interesting to remember that Gagnon, like many artists of his time, drew influence from Impressionism and the plein-air movement. Editor: I love how that comes through here, especially in the way he captures the light. The trees, dark and almost skeletal against the snow, really draw my eye in. And look at the violet shadows playing across the drifts—it is amazing, yes. Curator: What is captivating is Gagnon's vision in interpreting our natural landscape in this fashion. A marriage between European technique and Canadian perspective. The effect of the artwork and its depiction is very modern! Editor: Exactly. It offers a quiet but intense snapshot of a specific place and time, charged with personal emotion and artistic style. That’s what stays with me.