This original pen and pencil drawing is inspired by the traditional Alpine landscapes of Switzerland and the surrounding mountain regions. Set at dusk, the scene brings together the familiar elements of an Alpine setting: timber chalets, old barns, scattered villages and the mountains beyond, as the last light of day begins to fade.
I particularly enjoy Alpine villages at this time of day. As daylight disappears, the warm glow of lamps and windows begins to contrast with the cooler tones of the fading sky. The familiar details of the chalets and barns take on a different character, while the surrounding mountains still shine with their snowcapped peaks against the darker sky.
The artwork is not intended to represent one particular Alpine village. Instead, it brings together the elements that make these mountain communities so distinctive — traditional wooden buildings, quiet lanes, open meadows and dramatic mountain scenery — to create an imagined evening landscape.
At the heart of the scene, a marmotte (marmot) pauses to look towards a solitary illuminated lamppost. It's a small moment within the wider landscape, but one that adds a sense of life and curiosity to the otherwise peaceful evening setting.
 
Subject: Alpine Village at Dusk
Medium: Pen and monochrome colour pencil
Paper: Acid-free cartridge paper
Image size: 59 × 41 cm
Framed: No
Original: Yes
Certificate of Authentication: Yes
Artist: Graham McKenzie-Smith