Les Diablerets, The Oldenhorn and the Becca d’Audon de Paul Signac

This highly lyrical high-mountain landscape introduces a spectacular work by Paul Signac titled “Les Diablerets, The Oldenhorn and the Becca d’Audon”. This composition testifies to the adaptation of the divisionist method to wide natural spaces and snowy alpine peaks. The painter decomposes the cold light of glaciers and the warm tones of twilight into a multitude of small dots of pure color. This striking canvas transports the viewer into a universe of silence, ice, and celestial light.

In the foreground, a steep and rocky mountain slope rises diagonally on the left side of the composition, painted in dark shades of ultramarine blue and turquoise green evoking the cold shadow of deep valleys below. In the center and in the background, a huge snowy mountain dome emerges majestically from soft vaporous clouds. The glacial slopes of this high peak light up under the warm golden and orange-pink reflections of the beautiful setting sun, contrasting with the bluish shadow areas. The sky, of a beautiful sea-green and pale blue tone, is dotted with many violet touches that harmonize the entire landscape.

The painter demonstrates exceptional technical virtuosity here in applying oil paint to restore the texture of snow and rock. His absolute mastery of the division of tones allows him to represent the transparency of high-altitude air. The work is distinguished by its spiritual and poetic atmosphere.