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István Nagy, who moved to the Great Plain, always remembered landscapes, snow-covered mountains of Transylvania of his childhood. He was in search of the loneliness of people living in mountains. His subject matters were gloomy landscapes, grazing animals and people with wrinkled faces. His compositions were monumental where harmony and order originated from simple and puritan ideas. Consequently, he tried to avoid everything which was superfluous. He used mostly pastel because he did not need the rich colours of oil painting. He modelled definite and harsh forms with dark contours, which gave his pictures strong structural stresses.
Although pastel technique produces soft presentations, in landscapes of István Nagy contrasts are marked, and forms suggest masses. The curves of the hills and the rhythm of the trees counterbalance the tension of the composition creating a harmony. This all suggests atmospheres and emotions which become stronger in a painter who admires nature. "Landscape with Snow" reflects the beauty of the forest in winter in a fascinating simplicity. The radiant sunshine is reflected on the white snow and on the crest of distant hills in shadow. The painter stressed important ideas to give the experience of presence.
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