In 1919, Clarence Gagnon returned from Paris to the province of Quebec, settling in the village of Baie-Saint-Paul, nestled along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Charlevoix County. Infused with the aesthetic sensibilities of Impressionism, this captivating pochade imparts Gagnon’s refined vision to the Canadian landscape. Whether at dusk or daybreak, the diffused light across the iridescent snow and distant Laurentian Mountains evokes a quiet, liminal moment, conjuring a dreamy midwinter vignette. Traversing the terrain on skis in winter and on foot in summer, Gagnon developed an intimate connection to the rhythms and moods of the Laurentians. A preparatory sketch for his circa 1925 canvas Baie-Saint-Paul, Winter, this study foregrounds his fluid en plein air brushwork. Enlivening the scene is his singular palette, achieved by hand-grinding his own pigments imported from Paris. Here, swathes of white snow are infused with dappled bursts of soft pastel, while moody, muted shadows stretch across the forested hills beyond. At once atmospheric and evocative, this picturesque sketch exemplifies Gagnon’s keen sensitivity to the distinctive charm of the Charlevoix region.

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