Last day of winter. Winter is over. 28.02.2026. 11x37 cm.

Last Day of Winter. Winter Is Over. 28.02.2026

This original plein-air oil painting was created in Lutry, Switzerland, on the final day of February 2026, at the threshold between winter and spring on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Painted directly outdoors, the work captures a fleeting seasonal transition, when winter has not fully disappeared yet but the atmosphere already carries the first signs of renewal.

Lutry, located within the Lavaux region of the canton of Vaud, is known for its unique relationship between lake, vineyards and light. Throughout winter, the landscape around Lac Léman is transformed by soft mists, pale reflections and quiet tones. As the season begins to change, the colours become slightly warmer, the air clearer and the light more expansive across the water. (lutry.ch)

On this particular day, the landscape seemed suspended between two seasons. The remaining winter atmosphere lingered in the sky and along the lake, while subtle shifts of light suggested the arrival of spring. Rather than depicting a dramatic event, the painting focuses on this delicate transformation, a moment when nature quietly changes its rhythm.

Working en plein air allows these seasonal nuances to be observed directly and translated into paint before they disappear. The reflections on Lac Léman, the movement of light and the changing tones of the landscape became essential elements of the composition.

This work belongs to my ongoing series dedicated to Lutry, Lavaux and the landscapes surrounding Lake Geneva. Each painting records a specific encounter with a place, a season and a moment of atmosphere experienced in real time.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Lutry, Lavaux, Vaud, Switzerland

Subject: Seasonal transition over Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)

Region: Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage landscape

Medium: Oil painting

Date painted: 28 February 2026

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 11 x 37 cm

Size with passé partout: 25 x 48 cm

Date: 28 February 2026

Location: Lutry, Switzerland