Décembre Eugene Grasset (1841-1917)

The drawing presents a solitary female figure within a wintry landscape. She stands on what appears to be a snow-covered terrace or balcony, overlooking a garden similarly blanketed in white. The woman is draped in a dark cloak that obscures much of her form, though the rich terracotta hue of her dress is visible beneath. In her arms, she cradles a bundle wrapped in a light-colored cloth; its contents are indistinct but suggest something precious or fragile.
The setting itself contributes significantly to the overall mood. Bare branches of trees frame the scene, their starkness emphasized by the snow clinging to them. A large urn sits centrally within the garden’s view, adding a touch of classical formality and perhaps hinting at themes of memory or loss. The vegetation in the foreground – large-leaved plants emerging from the snow – provides a visual contrast between dormancy and life, suggesting resilience even amidst harsh conditions.
The womans posture conveys a sense of introspection and melancholy. Her gaze is directed downwards, away from the viewer, fostering an impression of inward contemplation. The cloak’s heavy folds contribute to this feeling of seclusion, as if she were deliberately withdrawing from the world.
Subtextually, the drawing seems to explore themes of isolation, preservation, and the passage of time. The winter setting is a clear symbol of decline and dormancy, while the womans protective embrace of the bundle could represent an attempt to safeguard something vulnerable against the elements – perhaps hope, memory, or even life itself. The contrast between the barren landscape and the vibrant dress suggests a tension between despair and enduring beauty. The classical urn reinforces this sense of tradition and continuity, hinting at a connection to the past that transcends the present moment of quiet solitude.