Snow White #02 Nancy Ekholm Burkert

The diptych presents a densely forested environment, split into two distinct yet interconnected panels. The left panel is characterized by a muted palette dominated by cool tones – pale blues, grays, and whites – suggesting a sense of ethereal light filtering through the trees. A figure, clad in a flowing blue gown, moves forward with an air of urgency or perhaps vulnerability. She appears to be traversing a snow-dusted landscape, indicated by the scattered white patches on the ground and the delicate rendering of frozen foliage. Behind her, partially obscured by the trees, are two deer observing her progress. Their presence introduces an element of watchful stillness, hinting at potential protection or, conversely, silent judgment.
The right panel contrasts sharply with its counterpart through a warmer color scheme – greens, browns, and yellows – and a more vibrant depiction of life. Here we see a large stag leaping across the foreground, followed by a smaller deer. The density of foliage is even greater than in the left panel, creating an impression of impenetrable wilderness. A bear appears nestled amongst the roots of a tree, its posture suggesting both power and repose.
The composition suggests a narrative arc or transition. The figure’s movement from the cool, somewhat desolate landscape on the left to the more vibrant and teeming forest on the right implies a journey – a passage from vulnerability to potential safety or integration into nature. The animals in each panel function as symbolic intermediaries between the human figure and the natural world. Their gazes suggest an awareness of her presence and perhaps a commentary on her place within this ecosystem.
The diptych’s format itself contributes to its meaning. The separation into two panels encourages a comparative reading, highlighting the contrasting environments and subtly suggesting that the figures experience is shaped by these opposing forces – the coldness of isolation versus the warmth of belonging. The overall effect is one of delicate beauty interwoven with an underlying sense of apprehension and the promise of transformation.