Cozy Season with Winter Editions

Peter Doig, D1-3 Lost, from Zermatt (D1) (detail), 2020-21/2022. Evening & Day Editions, London.

As the mercury drops during this magical time of year, we begin to slow down and unwind as we find solace in the glow of a warm fire and the sight of a snowy landscape. We admit, we’re taking the requisite time to rest our weary bones from the bustle of the year, and as we do, travel comes to mind. After all, what better way to relax than the luxury of a change of pace and scenery?

Yet finding the perfect winter resort is no easy task. Luckily for us, we can skip the winter travel, as the below works on offer in the upcoming Evening & Day Editions auctions in London transport us to just the right places. So cozy up, pour that Earl Grey or Laphroaig or chocolat chaud or whatever you like, and join us for a cool plunge into works so wintry they actually make us feel warm.

Peter Doig

Peter Doig, Zermatt (D1), 2020–21/2022. Evening & Day Editions, London.

There is no better place to begin this reverie than a picturesque Swiss ski resort, and Peter Doig brings us just that. In fact, Doig made the paintings from which these prints were sourced shortly after spending the winter season at the Zermatt chalet of the architect and artist Heinz Julen. The images were inspired by vintage ski posters advertising the resort municipality and Doig drew on his memories of this landscape while painting. In a cunning ontological twist, the paintings originally inspired by posters are here rendered as giclée prints. The works were also inspired by Derek Walcott’s series of poems The Prodigal, which chronicle the experience of a traveler and speak to ongoing themes Doig explores in his work: the slippage between memory, reality, and imagination. Just the themes we need for our winter daydream.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, Neuschwanstein, 1987. Evening & Day Editions, London.

And deeper into that daydream we go with Andy Warhol and a work that makes Neuschwanstein castle look even more like a fairy tale setting than it does in the Disney logo. The castle, nestled above the Alpsee lake in the Bavarian countryside and surrounded by a forest of dense evergreens, has inspired enchanting tales throughout the age, frequently gracing the silver screen on its way to becoming a major tourist destination. Ever drawn to iconic and recognizable imagery, it comes as no surprise that this castle caught the interest of Andry Warhol. For us, it’s the perfect place for an imagined winter adventure.

David Shrigley

David Shrigley, I Hate Humans, 2022. Evening & Day Editions, London.

This David Shrigley work expresses a sentiment many of us feel this time of year. And though that sentiment may be strong, the image of this creature is so adorable we can’t look away. Of course, there may be deeper meanings at play here. Perhaps this bear hates us humans for what we’ve done to their ecosystem, particularly given the lack of ice in the image. And that’s the power of this work: it immediately makes us smile as we identify with its message, then it calls to mind the forlorn imagery of displaced polar bears in a reminder of the impact our presence has on our fellow creatures. But it can also serve as a welcome reminder that there’s nothing wrong with a little alone time when we need it.

Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter, Waldhaus (House in the Woods), 2004/2018. Evening & Day Editions, London.

Speaking of solitude, Gerhard Richter’s Waldhaus lets us imagine a private moment shared with nature. From a midair vantage point — as though we’re on a ski lift — we look down upon this idyllic scene to see a comfortable home nestled among the dense trees of a forest with snow-capped mountains in the distance. There’s just enough of the house in the frame to remind us of a human presence. Otherwise, we’re left alone with our thoughts in the woods. How very German.

Marc Chagall

Marc Chagall, L’Hiver (Winter), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961. Evening & Day Editions, London.

From our remote daydream we’re now drawn to the timeless romance of Daphnis and Chloé in Chagall’s passionate depiction of the young lovers reuniting in a harsh winter. The sight of the couple against the snow-drenched background calls to mind the warmth of our loved ones’ embrace in the colder months. A spectacular use of subtle yellow, blue, pink, and purple colors adds a dreamy glow to this mythical scene that is definitively Chagall.

Winterreise

Left: Jadé Fadojutimi, A Season's Echo, 2022. Right: David Hockney, Rain on the Studio Window, 2009. Evening & Day Editions, London.

And now, choose your own winter journey. From the ambience of the delicate rain seen from David Hockney’s studio window to the snow-covered cherry blossoms of Damien Hirst’s Mercy from The Virtues and the psychological expression in Jadé Fadojutimi’s A Season’s Echo, there’s even more to explore from the comfort of your home (or from the halls of Phillips’ London gallery). Browse the catalogue to discover even more inspiration.