Florian Gate in Cracow from the windows of the Academy of Fine Arts 1903

Leon Wyczółkowski made "Florian Gate in Cracow from the windows of the Academy of Fine Arts" using a lithograph process. I love the earthiness of this print. Wyczółkowski uses a limited palette of browns, greys, and whites, and the process itself—lithography—gives the image a soft, almost velvety texture. The brown paper peeks through, warming up the cool snow scene. Look at how he renders the snow-covered roofs and the distant hills. The white isn't a flat, uniform blanket; instead, it's built up of tiny marks and delicate lines, echoing the texture of real snow, capturing light, shadow, and the subtle drifts of wind. The bare branches of the trees in the foreground reach out like skeletal fingers, adding a layer of stark contrast against the soft background. Wyczółkowski reminds me of Whistler with his atmospheric landscapes, finding beauty in the everyday and overlooked. Like all great art, it leaves space for contemplation.