Roofs under the Snow 1889

Igor Grabar created this painting, “Roofs under the Snow,” using oil paints. The snow dominates the scene, blanketing the rooftops with a thick layer of white. Grabar has created this work through visible, repetitive brushstrokes. The white is far from uniform; it shimmers with blues and greys. The painting bears the imprint of the artist's hand and the tools he used. The surface is built up through layers of strokes and the way he has applied oil paint, giving texture, depth, and a physical presence to the snow. The image is tied to wider social issues – the consumption of fuel to heat homes, the labor involved in maintaining buildings. The painting reminds us of the people who lived and worked within these structures. Grabar asks us to consider the materials and labor that go into making our built environment and how art can reveal the hidden stories behind even the most ordinary scenes.