Maurice de Vlaminck, Snowstorm

Maurice de Vlaminck, Snowstorm

Well another snow painting today; a little strange for August but oh well.  Maurice de Vlaminck (1876-1958) was a French painter of the Fauve movement, famous for bright colors and loose, wild brushwork (Henri Matisse and André Derain are the most famous members).  Much of de Vlaminck's work fits the style completely, but this work is a bit different.  I have not been able to find an exact date for this painting, but it seems most similar to the painter's work around 1920.  De Vlaminck has really emphasized the storm aspect of this weather.  The clouds are black and the air is thick with snow, and the trees bend and twist in the wind.  The stark, contrasting colors give this painting a lot of power, as does the brushwork.  The clouds are done in wide swaths that suggest monolithic storm clouds, and the snow is rendered in thin, sharp stripes.  This is most evident on the road and on the trees to the left.  This gives a very harsh sense to the snow and gives the scene an ominous tone.  I especially love the way wind is conveyed: the trees seem to move in every direction, and the power of the weather pervades the canvas.