'Autumn snow in the Hex River Valley' - James Yates

Dimensions: 61 x 92 cm (24 x 36 in)

Medium: Oil on canvas

'Autumn Snow in the Hex River Valley' is a magnificent original oil on canvas by South African master James Yates (b. 1944). This wide-format landscape, measuring 61 cm (Height) x 92 cm (Width), captures a rare and beautiful confluence of seasons in the famed Hex River Valley of the Western Cape. The piece is a powerful example of Postwar Realism, showcasing the region's agricultural richness set against the spectacular height of the Cape Fold Mountains. This is a highly sought-after piece that represents the dramatic extremes of South African scenery.

The composition is framed dramatically by dark, rugged mountain flanks in the foreground, creating a viewing window into the vibrant valley floor. This central valley is a breathtaking tapestry of colour, where the table grape vineyards have transitioned into deep autumn hues of carmine red, intense orange, and saffron yellow. The cultivated fields are sharply delineated, forming geometric blocks of colour that contrast with the organic shapes of the surrounding hills. Small, traditional white homesteads are nestled amongst the fields, providing a sense of scale and human endeavour within the vast landscape.

Above this colourful valley, the Hex River Mountains command the distance. Their jagged peaks are dusted with fresh, brilliant white snow, creating a sharp, beautiful contrast with the warm foreground. Yates expertly handles the light, suggesting a clear, cold atmosphere where the distant snow and bright foliage intensify each other's colours, making this painting a stunning and memorable portrayal of a fleeting natural phenomenon.

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