View to valley from Grand Chamossaire, hot June. 29.06.2025. 26х36 cm

View to Valley from Grand Chamossaire. Hot June. 26.06.2025

This original plein-air oil painting was created at Grand Chamossaire in the Vaud Alps, Switzerland, during an exceptionally warm day in June 2025. Painted directly outdoors, the work captures a panoramic view descending into the valley below, where mountain slopes, distant horizons and summer light merge into a vast landscape of openness and atmosphere.

Grand Chamossaire rises above Villars-sur-Ollon at an altitude of over 2,100 metres and is one of the most celebrated panoramic viewpoints in the canton of Vaud. From its summit, the landscape unfolds across the Vaud Alps toward Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), the Rhône Valley, Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountain ranges. The sensation of looking from high alpine ground toward immense distances is one of the defining experiences of the region. (TVGD)

The title 0 View to Valley suggests a direct and almost minimalist encounter with space itself. Rather than focusing on a single landmark, the painting is dedicated to the act of looking outward across the valley and observing the landscape as a continuous field of light, depth and movement.

On this hot June day, the mountain air carried unusual warmth while remaining remarkably clear. Sunlight spread across the slopes and distant ridges, revealing subtle variations of colour within the terrain. The valley below appeared layered through atmosphere and distance, creating a sense of scale that shifted constantly as light moved across the landscape.

Summer in the Vaud Alps often produces striking contrasts between the freshness of elevation and the intensity of sunlight. From Grand Chamossaire, these conditions create panoramic views where mountains, valleys and distant lakes become interconnected through light and air. (TVGD)

Rather than depicting geography alone, the painting explores the emotional experience of elevation: the feeling of standing above the valley, surrounded by openness, heat and silence. The landscape becomes less a specific place and more a space of contemplation shaped by atmosphere.

Created during a single plein-air painting session, this work preserves a fleeting encounter with alpine summer light and the expansive views of Western Switzerland. The heat of the day, the transparency of the air and the vastness of the valley became essential elements of the composition.

This painting belongs to my ongoing series dedicated to the Alps, the canton of Vaud and the landscapes of Switzerland. Each work records a direct experience of place, season and atmosphere observed outdoors in nature.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Grand Chamossaire, Villars-sur-Ollon, Vaud, Switzerland

Subject: Panoramic valley view from the Vaud Alps

Region: Swiss Alps overlooking Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)

Medium: Oil painting

Date painted: 26 June 2025

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 26 cm x 36 cm

Size with passé-partout  40 x 56 cm 

Date: 29 June 2025

Location: Grand Chamossaire, Vaud, Switzerland