Claude Monet (1840-1926) was fascinated by the combination of snow and light. He painted many snowscapes of his village from 1874-1875. This beautiful scene is an impressionistic image of this village and fascination. In tones of blue and grey, Monet paints the feeling of a cold day and the surrounding frost.

In other features, Monet’s palette includes bright colors in nature, people and buildings that catch your eyes and move them down the path to the vanishing point set in the middle of the piece. He also used impasto’s thickness on the pictured road to emphasize disturbed, muddy snow.

This is a simple, everyday view raised to a masterpiece by an artist  who saw extraordinary grace in his every day. May we look closely at the world in his honor and find beauty that we may have overlooked without his examples of imagination and skill. We give thanks to God for each view. Amen.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church