March in the Birch Woods 1919

Clarence Gagnon made 'March in the Birch Woods' with what looks like oil paint, capturing a snowy scene. I imagine him layering those icy blues and whites to build up the forest depth. Those birch trees, they're not just standing there; they’re vibrating with light, almost shimmering. It must have been cold. I wonder if Gagnon was right there in the snow, feeling the chill as he worked. And that red horse! What a pop against all that white. You know, painting is like having a conversation across time. Gagnon might have been thinking about the Barbizon school, but he was also totally doing his own thing, finding his own way to make marks that make a world. It's a reminder that painting is always alive, always changing, always surprising.