Skip to main content

Main Building

Winter Chaos, Blizzard

Around 1909
Marsden Hartley (American, 1877–1943)
In this landscape of both chaos and beauty, Marsden Hartley depicted a blizzard in a valley surrounded by snowcapped mountaintops. The artist’s use of unexpectedly bold colors to represent snow, rather than the typical white, conveys the intensity of the windy storm. Hartley painted freely in an impressionistic style, with loose brushstrokes and thick layers of paint that express the swirling motion of the gale and mirror the layers of snow building up in the scene. The effect sweeps the viewer directly into the turbulence of the winter storm.

Object Details

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.


Main Building