The old houses under the snow 1997

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this watercolour, "The Old Houses Under the Snow," and it captures a moment, a feeling, more than a place. Look at how the washes of grey and brown bleed into each other, creating soft, blurry edges. It’s like seeing the world through a frosty window. You can almost feel the damp, cold air. The paint isn’t trying to hide itself here, you know? It’s thin and washy, soaking into the paper. Krupa uses the wet-on-wet technique, where new colour is laid down on wet paper, for many areas. Focus on that small dark patch in the foreground, where the snow meets the ground. It's so simple, just a few strokes, but it creates depth and contrast. It’s these little moments that make the whole painting sing, like a quiet conversation. Maybe Krupa looked at some of Emil Nolde's looser landscapes? Either way, it's a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about capturing a fleeting feeling.