Montréal in Winter by Helen McNicoll - 1911 - 45.7 x 35.4 cm private collection Montréal in Winter by Helen McNicoll - 1911 - 45.7 x 35.4 cm private collection

Montréal in Winter

Oil on canvas • 45.7 x 35.4 cm
  • Helen McNicoll - December 14, 1879 - June 27, 1915 Helen McNicoll 1911

Montréal in winter stands in stark contrast to the rest of Helen McNicoll's work, both in its winter theme—which necessitates a different treatment of light and atmosphere—and in its genre, as a street scene, a subject she rarely explored. In the small painting, snow dominates two-thirds of the canvas, entirely covering the street and a tree. The snow on the ground is depicted schematically in broad strokes, while the snow accumulating in the tree mimics McNicoll's typical foliage treatment, rendered with smaller, delicate touches. The tree itself is only partially revealed through linear depictions of the trunk and branches. The figures, sketched quickly yet with evident skill, stand out against the scene with their dark clothing. Meanwhile, the building's architecture is partially blanketed by snow, creating strong areas of contrast that contribute to the painting’s unique quality of light. As in many of McNicoll's works, natural elements—whether foliage, grass, or snow—serve as decorative motifs that structure the pictorial space, which is fundamentally shaped by the materiality of the paint itself.

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