Artwork
Landscape at Pen Pitts
Landscape at Pen Pitts is a watercolor work on paper by Paul Nash. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Landscape at Pen Pitts is a watercolour that captures a wintry scene of rolling terrain marked by gentle ridges and hollows. Five bare tree trunks punctuate the composition, while a dark, curved form in the foreground suggests a fallen trunk or stump. The sky is light‑toned, illuminated by a yellowish disc that may represent the sun or moon.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a stark, snow‑covered landscape where the contrast between the white‑gray ground and the dark silhouettes of trees emphasizes the quiet severity of winter. The solitary dark shape in the middle draws attention to the passage of time and the lingering presence of nature’s remnants amid the seasonal silence.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, rapid brushstrokes, the work conveys a sketch‑like immediacy characteristic of watercolour. The artist employs subtle variations of brown and blue shadows to suggest depth beneath the snow, while the pale sky and yellow disc are rendered with soft washes that enhance the atmospheric chill.
Context
Paul Nash, known for his landscape studies, often explored the interplay of light and form in natural settings. This piece aligns with his broader interest in the muted palettes of winter scenes, reflecting a period when he focused on the stark beauty of the British countryside.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Nash (11 May 1889 – 11 July 1946) was a British surrealist painter and war artist, as well as a photographer, writer and designer of applied art.
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A clearing under snow
Snowy hillside
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Mountains and fields in snow
Snowy landscape with trees
Sketches made during the Campaign of 1854-55 in the Crimea, Circassia and Constantinople
Oxwich, Gower, Glamorganshire