Roofs winter Vasily Ivanovich Surikov (1848-1916)

The composition presents a view of rooftops blanketed in snow, rendered with a muted palette dominated by browns, whites, and grays. Here we see a cluster of buildings, seemingly residential structures, tightly packed together under a heavy snowfall. The roofs themselves are the primary focus; their varied angles and textures create a complex interplay of light and shadow.
The artist employed a technique that emphasizes the tactile quality of the snow – it appears thick, granular, and clinging to every surface. Icicles hang precariously from eaves, adding to the sense of winters weight and stillness. The buildings are constructed from dark wood, their surfaces weathered and aged, suggesting a history of enduring harsh conditions. Small windows punctuate the facades, hinting at life within but remaining largely obscured by the pervasive snow.
A church spire rises above the other structures, its white form contrasting sharply with the darker tones of the surrounding buildings. This element introduces a verticality that breaks up the horizontal emphasis of the rooftops and suggests a spiritual dimension to the scene. A bare tree is visible near the spire, adding another textural contrast against the snow-covered landscape.
The overall effect is one of quiet solitude and resilience. The painting evokes a feeling of isolation, but also of steadfastness – these buildings have weathered many winters and continue to stand. There’s an underlying melancholy present in the scene; the muted colors and heavy snowfall contribute to a sense of introspection and perhaps even a subtle longing for warmth or respite from the cold.
The arrangement of the rooftops suggests a community, albeit one that is tightly bound and somewhat enclosed by its environment. The lack of human figures reinforces this feeling of detachment and invites contemplation on themes of endurance, faith, and the relationship between humanity and nature in challenging circumstances.