Snow White #02 Nancy Ekholm Burkert

The artwork presents a young woman traversing a dense woodland setting. The composition is dominated by verticality; tall, slender trees recede into a misty distance, creating a sense of depth and enclosure. A muted palette prevails, with shades of grey, brown, and pale blue defining the scene’s atmosphere. Light filters through the canopy, illuminating patches of snow-covered ground and highlighting the womans attire.
The central figure is depicted in motion, her dress – a striking shade of blue – billowing around her as she moves forward. Her posture suggests a mixture of apprehension and determination; her gaze is directed towards an unseen point beyond the viewer’s perspective. The artist has rendered her features with delicate detail, emphasizing a vulnerability that contrasts with the imposing nature of the surrounding forest.
Several animals populate the woodland floor. A leopard crouches low to the ground on the left side of the frame, while a wolf stands alertly on the right. These creatures are not presented as overtly threatening; rather, they seem to observe the woman’s progress with an almost detached curiosity. A small bird perches near her feet, adding a touch of fragile beauty to the scene.
The subtexts within this work revolve around themes of vulnerability and potential danger. The forest itself functions as a symbolic space – a liminal zone between safety and peril. The presence of predatory animals suggests underlying threats, while the woman’s solitary journey implies a sense of isolation and dependence. Her blue dress might be interpreted as representing innocence or hope amidst an uncertain environment. The overall impression is one of quiet tension; a moment poised on the edge of transformation or confrontation.