Brightness of sunny foggy air. Léman. Lutry. 21.01.2026. 14.5x26 cm.

Brightness of Sunny Foggy Air, Léman, Lutry. 21.01.2026

This original plein-air oil painting was created in Lutry, Switzerland, on a luminous winter day along the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Painted directly outdoors, the work explores the unusual brightness that appears when sunlight filters through fog, transforming the landscape into a field of diffused light, transparency and subtle colour.

Lutry lies between the waters of Lac Léman and the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape known for its constantly changing atmosphere. During winter, fog frequently settles above the lake, softening distances and dissolving the boundaries between water, sky and land. Yet when sunlight penetrates the mist, the landscape becomes unexpectedly radiant, filled with glowing reflections and suspended light. (meteoswiss.admin.ch)

On this January day, the fog did not conceal the landscape entirely. Instead, it became a luminous veil through which light spread across the lake and surrounding horizon. The surface of Lac Léman reflected this brightness, creating delicate transitions between opacity and transparency. The atmosphere seemed both clear and hidden at the same time, revealing the quiet complexity of winter light.

Fog above lakes forms through subtle interactions between temperature, humidity and air movement, producing constantly shifting visual conditions. Along Lac Léman these transformations can occur within minutes, making direct observation essential to capturing their fleeting character. (meteoswiss.admin.ch)

Rather than focusing on a specific landmark, this painting is dedicated to atmosphere itself: the sensation of standing before the lake while sunlight and fog merge into a single luminous space. The work preserves a brief moment when winter air, water and light seemed suspended in perfect balance.

This painting belongs to my ongoing plein-air series dedicated to Lutry, Lavaux and the landscapes surrounding Lake Geneva. Each work records a direct encounter with season, weather and the changing light of Lac Léman.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Lutry, Lavaux, Vaud, Switzerland
Subject: Winter sunlight and fog over Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)
Region: Lavaux lakeshore landscape
Medium: Oil painting
Date painted: 21 January 2026

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 14.5 x 26 cm

Size with passé partout: 30 x 44 cm

Date: 20 January 2026

Location: Lutry, Switzerland