Love it or hate it, snow is a classic hallmark of winter. Whether a smattering of fluffy flakes or a full-on blizzard, snow has long been a favorite motif for artists; either for its symbolism, evoking themes of solitude and silence, or for its compositional qualities, offering a wintry scrim through which to view the world. Where paintings like N.C. Wyeth’s Winter at Valley Forge (1934–36) engage with a specific event, portraying General George Washington’s brave encampment in frigid hues, other works take a more contemporary, humorous approach to snowy scenes.
As we approach the midpoint of winter, we’ve gathered five artworks from the Artnet Gallery Network that highlight the artistic diversity of snow. And, as always, you too can browse and discover season-inspired art on your own through the Artnet Gallery Network, which has thousands of artists and galleries that can easily be accessed with just one click.
Manabu Ikeda, Snowy Night (2020)
Manabu Ikeda, Snowy Night (2020). Courtesy of Tandem Press, Madison.
Weaving together themes of nature and the manmade world in his work, Japanese artist Manabu Ikeda (b. 1973) is able to create extremely detailed drawings and prints of everyday vignettes that take on the air of the sublime. His monochromatic works on paper—such as this intaglio print of a hushed suburban street—play with the relationship between the micro and the macro, which invite viewers to spend prolonged periods looking, and to immerse themselves in his artistic world.
Rafael Desoto, Noir Pulp Magazine, Dead Man in the Snow (1945)
Rafael Desoto, Noir Pulp Magazine, Dead Man in the Snow (1945). Courtesy of Robert Funk Fine Art, Miami.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Rafael Desoto (1904–92) initially worked at an advertising company before starting to draw interior story illustrations for pulp magazine Street & Smith’s in 1930. Soon, he was working regularly as a freelance pulp cover artist and was published widely. The gouache on board Noir Pulp Magazine, Dead Man in the Snow (1945) epitomizes his and the genre’s frank and narrative style—and renders the usually lighthearted depiction of snow decidedly macabre.
David Yarrow, LA Baby (2022)
David Yarrow, LA Baby (2022). Courtesy of Maddox Gallery, London, Gstaad, and West Hollywood.
Scottish photographer David Yarrow (b. 1966) first rose to prominence with his iconic image of footballer Diego Maradona holding the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which he took when he was only 20 years old. Yarrow has continued to work as a highly respected sports photographer—including covering the 1988 Winter Olympics—as well as expanding his practice to include photographing the natural world. His nature images are recognized for their unique perspectives and compositional nuance.
Aaron Cobbett, Sean with Skates (2004)
Aaron Cobbett, Sean with Skates (2004). Courtesy of Clamp, New York.
Brooklyn-based artist Aaron Cobbett started his career in the 1980s as a window dresser at New York’s famed Bergdorf Goodman department store. Simultaneously participating in the vibrant East Village drag scene, this confluence of experiences—also within the context of the AIDS crisis—informed and shaped Cobbett’s artistic practice. Working across textile, video, installation, and photography, his color-saturated, high-concept portraits have become a cornerstone of New York queer visual culture.
Michael Fratrich, Quintessential Vermont (n.d.)
Michael Fratrich, Quintessential Vermont (n.d.). Courtesy of Tilting at Windmills Gallery, Manchester Center.
The practice of self-taught artist Michael Fratrich (b. 1983) centers on depicting rural and vintage American landscapes and scenes. His signature style evokes traditional folk and colonial painting styles, and his work engages with an “underlying American spirit.” Largely inspired by the rural countryside of Vermont, where he currently lives and works, the snowy scene in the cozy Quintessential Vermont embodies the picturesque beauty of fresh fallen snow.
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