Alexandre Altmann, a Russian-born painter, is best known for his impressionist landscapes that sensitively capture the effects of light and the changing seasons. After studying at the Moscow School of Fine Arts, he emigrated to Paris in 1905, where he immersed himself in the artistic life of the French capital. He drew inspiration from impressionist masters such as Monet and Pissarro, while also reflecting the Russian landscapes of his childhood, which he recreated with marked lyricism.

In Snowy Landscape (1915), Altmann depicts a winter scene bathed in a soft, cold light, typical of the winter months in Eastern Europe. The composition is structured around a snow-covered path winding through a clearing, bordered by bare young trees. The palette, dominated by shades of blue, gray, and off-white, suggests a winter twilight with the fading light casting a tranquil, contemplative atmosphere over the scene. The bold use of swift, broad brushstrokes conveys the urgency of capturing a fleeting moment, in true impressionist spirit.

This painting showcases Altmann's talent for capturing the subtle variations of light on snow, while evoking a sense of solitude and calm. Despite the apparent simplicity of the subject, the richness of the nuances and textures demonstrates the artist's technical mastery. In this stripped-down landscape, Altmann manages to convey an intense poetic sensitivity. This work reflects the influence of the impressionist masters while embodying a personal approach to landscape art, securing Altmann's place among the essential artists of the early 20th-century Parisian art scene.