Winter Scene

A city park in winter appears endless from this low-level, child's point of view. Clusters of excited young people converge upon a sledding hill in the distance, the patterns of their tracks leading us to their destination. Most of Alshets' painting is dedicated to snow in the foreground or a beautifully patterned sky overhead; a sinuous ribbon of trees and buildings are the only reminders of its urban setting. Perhaps due to the idyllic setting, this work was allocated to the Homer Folks Tuberculosis Hospital in Oneonta, NY. Its current status is unknown.

Note: this image was taken by an unnamed photographer of the FAP's Photo Division and, so far as we know, is the only record of Alshets' painting. The original photograph has been cropped and lightly edited for clarity.

About the Artist:

Alshets, Simon (1908 - ?)

Smithsonian Museum, Archives of American Art
Federal Art Project, Photographic Division Collection
Box 1, Folder 20

Photograph of oil on canvas painting