12.1.10

The color of snow...


“Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, Nor time unmake what poets know”
Ralph Waldo Emerson


About the painting... Nothing happens here, it seems. A field of snow is marked by some trees on the top, a road at the right, clouds, and the intimation of lightening on the horizon. A few vertical scratches indicate grass poking through a crust of snow. But what intensity of observation! The paint wiped around the hill makes the viewer think about the colour white, how it can be made yellow, grey or blue. The trees are nothing but black blobs marking edges, while snow-filled clouds animate the scene, pushed across the sky by winter wind.Painted by Jule Bastien le Page..

Snow is actually colorless. It appears white because light is so scattered when it hits the snow reflecting back all the colors in light. Depending on where you find the snow, snow can actually appear red, blue, black, green, and more.

4 comments:

Rattus Scribus said...

Lovely picture and poem. I also just love the painting of the birds in the tree with the winter village in the distance from your Sunday post. A wonderful style of story-telling art.
Blessings,
Ruben

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh dearest, what a lovely poem from Emerson and the thought of the color of snow. Another one of nature's wonders, playing tricks of illusion with us, showing us the mysteries of its beauty. I also love how polar bears' fur isn't really white either, but rather the same play with light occuring!!! How is Hilltop today? Anymore unusual doings? Miss Moussie must be shaking in her winter boots! Bisous, Anita

A Bit of the Blarney said...

The painting is stark in its beauty. It needs nothing to enhance it. It stands by itself! Really very nice! Cathy

Renee said...

I didn't know that I thought it was white.

xoxo