Sunset with yellow three. Lutry. 3.02.2026. 18x32 cm.

Sunset with Yellow Trees, Lutry. 03.02.2026

This original plein-air oil painting was created in Lutry, Switzerland, on a winter evening overlooking Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Painted directly outdoors, the work captures the warm glow of yellow trees illuminated by the final light of sunset, contrasting against the cooler tones of the lake, sky and surrounding landscape.

Lutry lies at the entrance to the Lavaux region, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape where vineyards, lakeside villages and mountain views form one of the most distinctive cultural landscapes in Switzerland. The changing light over Lac Léman transforms the scenery throughout the year, and winter sunsets often create unexpected moments of colour and atmosphere. (lutry.ch)

On this February evening, the remaining sunlight briefly ignited the trees in shades of gold and yellow before fading into the colder blue tones of approaching night. The contrast between warmth and winter, light and shadow, became the central focus of the painting. Rather than depicting a specific landmark, the work explores the emotional atmosphere of a fleeting moment when nature appears illuminated from within.

Created during a single plein-air painting session, this work preserves the rapidly changing conditions of sunset as they unfolded across the landscape. The reflections of Lac Léman, the movement of evening light and the luminous presence of the trees could only be observed for a short time before disappearing into dusk.

This painting belongs to my ongoing series dedicated to Lutry, Lavaux and the landscapes surrounding Lake Geneva. Each work records a direct encounter with a place, a season and a passing state of light observed in nature.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Lutry, Lavaux, Vaud, Switzerland
Subject: Sunset light and yellow trees near Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)
Region: Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage landscape
Medium: Oil painting
Date painted: 3 February 2026

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 18 x 32 cm

Size with passé partout: 36 x 50 cm

Date: 3 February 2026

Location: Lutry, Switzerland