The Breughel Gallery

In 1973, in a small shop on a side street off Spring Garden Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I stumbled upon the works of Peter Breughel, a Flemish painter of the 14th century. I was immediately taken by the artist's use of colour, by his attention to detail, and the subject matter. But mostly, it was the evocative moods of certain of his paintings that really grabbed me... especially his winter landscapes. A child of winter myself, I was immediately drawn into those scenes of snow and ice and skating, transported back to a childhood time when I was enthralled by stories like "Hans Brinker"... when I dreamed repeatedly of skating along frozen canals and streets and lakes... and the dream skating was as real as could be. And my disappointment upon waking was bitter.

When I first came upon Breughel's painting, "Winter", I felt like I was looking at a rendition of my very own childhood dreams. It was more than just deja vu. Not only had I been there before, it seemed to me that that was where I belonged. I still wonder at the fact that I was able to resist simply stepping into the painting and disappearing altogether. Some part of me must have known that the future had plans that I just could not avoid.

At any rate, I could not resist purchasing a print of that magical landscape. I could only afford a version that measured a mere four by six inches, but that was okay. It continues to grace a wall in my home, even after all these years. I am gazing at it even as I write this. Who knows but maybe someday I may strap on my old skates and...