Art appreciation: Winter in Art

Session dates and times:

• Wednesday 10th December, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Course tutor:

• Caroline Levisse

Join us for an engaging lecture on the portrayal of winter in art, exploring how artists have captured the season’s stark beauty, quietude, and introspection across centuries. From medieval illuminations and Bruegel’s lively 16th-century village scenes to Monet’s serene snowscapes, winter has many inspired painters. In their works they evoke the season’s unique mood and atmosphere. This session will examine iconic winter-themed works, delving into how artists convey the season's chilly textures and muted colours, but also its reflective qualities.

What will this course cover?

This talk delves into the evocative portrayals of winter across centuries of art, tracing how artists have captured the season's beauty, melancholy, and profound stillness. Starting with some medieval illuminations from the Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder's vibrant 16th-century village scenes, we’ll explore how winter's communal spirit and harsh conditions were depicted with lively details.

Moving into the 19th century, Caspar David Friedrich used winter’s isolation to convey Romantic themes of solitude and spiritual reflection, where icy landscapes become meditative spaces. We will see echoes of such themes in the wintry scenes of Nordic artists such as Harald Sohlberg and Edvard Munch at the end of the 19th century. Theirmoonlit snowy scenes highlight the profound silence and beauty of Nordic winters.

We then turn to Impressionist masters Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley, we will see how they rendered winter in lush colours and luminous tones, capturing fleeting effects of light and atmosphere on snow-covered fields.

Through these artists’ and many more others’ varied lenses, we’ll discuss how winter's representations reveal cultural attitudes and emotional resonances, from communal resilience to personal reflection.

What will I get out of this course?

Join tutor Caroline Levisse for this introductory 2 hour course and learn with an engaging group of students. Perfect for art lovers and those drawn to seasonal landscapes, this talk provides a fascinating journey through winter’s changing artistic legacy, revealing how each era reimagined the season’s quiet power.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills or experience?

This is an introductory level course, so no particular skills are needed - only an interest in artwork and willingness to engage with the class.

What do I need to bring with me?

You do not need to bring any equipment, but a pen and notepad may be useful to jot down your thoughts.

Since 1903 the WEA have been delivering on our charitable mission - to bring lifelong learning within reach of everybody who needs it.

Today, we continue to empower adults by delivering great teaching across England and Scotland, reaching tens of thousands of learners each year.

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