Spring Landscape

Cecil Chichester’s Spring Landscape is an oil painting depicting birch trees set against rolling blue hills. There are no people or animals present in the image, making it entirely focused on nature. The lighting is soft, with the sun shining through the trees, making it seem as if the sun has just risen or is about to set. Two birch trees are seen in the foreground, one splitting into a V-shape, and the other standing singularly. There is no single focal point of the image. It is cohesive and allows the viewer’s eye to roam over the piece as they please. This is a foreground-dominant landscape, made clear by the contrast in value and hue between the foreground and background. The foreground is brighter and warmer-toned, in contrast to the darker, cooler-toned background, which places emphasis on the trees. The foreground is also more detailed; the leaves are visible on the two main trees, whereas those in the background fade into the hills. There is a path in the middle of the trees, lit by sunlight, that suggests the viewer could travel into the image, making it appear to be larger than it is.

Chichester, Cecil (1891 - 1963)

Donalty, Kenna (description)

Helquist, Morgan (photography)

New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY

Object #FA 828

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Oil on canvas

Image: 29 1/4 x 23-1/2 in.
Frame: 34 3/4 x 29 1/4 in.