“The Unexpected Attack of Winter” by Jacek Yerka is a surrealist landscape created in 2008 in Poland using pastel. The artwork masterfully combines an unexpected winter scene with vivid, autumnal elements, showcasing the unpredictable intermingling of seasons.
In the artwork, clusters of unique, multi-storied tower structures painted in an array of colors stand amidst a surreal landscape. Encircling these architectural forms is a backdrop of richly colored trees, their foliage a vibrant blend of autumn hues. The tops of the buildings and the branches of the trees are capped with snow, suggesting an abrupt onset of winter. Despite the snow, the ground within the inner area of the towers remains green, highlighting the contrast between the seasons. The sky above is heavy with overcast, adding to the atmosphere of an encroaching winter. The framing of the artwork accentuates its dreamlike and whimsical quality, consistent with the surrealist genre that Jacek Yerka is known for.
