Artwork
Landscape with hills under snow and a lake
Landscape with hills under snow and a lake is a watercolor work on paper by the Post-Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts a tranquil winter landscape of snow‑covered hills rising above a still lake.
About this work
She often painted the same view in different seasons, and snow made the hills look even grander to her.
This watercolour shows a quiet winter scene—snowy hills and a calm lake. It comes from a series Potter drew in the early 1900s around her farm in the Lake District. She often painted the same view in different seasons, and snow made the hills look even grander to her.
Potter knew the land well. She bought Hill Top farm in 1905 and spent years sketching its changing light and weather.
Check out more of her landscape studies at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This watercolour depicts a tranquil winter landscape of snow‑covered hills rising above a still lake. Rendered in delicate washes, the scene conveys a muted palette and a sense of quiet atmosphere. The composition reflects an early‑20th‑century study of the Lake District’s terrain, focusing on the interplay of light, snow and water.
Subject & Meaning
The view likely represents Esthwaite Water and its surrounding fells, a locale familiar to the artist after acquiring the Hill Top farm nearby. The winter setting emphasizes the starkness of the hills, a quality the creator found particularly striking when veiled in mist and snow, suggesting an appreciation for the region’s seasonal transformations.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the work employs layered washes to suggest the softness of snow and the reflective surface of the lake. Fine brushwork defines the contours of the hills, while broader strokes convey atmospheric depth. The restrained colour range and emphasis on tonal variation are characteristic of the artist’s landscape studies.
History & Provenance
Created during a series of winter studies made between 1909 and 1913, the piece reflects the artist’s habit of revisiting the same vista across different seasons. After remaining in the artist’s personal collection, the watercolour entered the holdings of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is displayed alongside related landscape sketches.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
