BKOKEN AND SHADED LIGHT 



43 



sky they disappear entirely, and only a gray 

 effect is apparent. Just before dusk, when 

 sometimes the clouds become empurpled, the 

 whole body of snow will take on a purple re- 

 flection. The same or a similar effect is no- 

 ticeable in the sand dunes along the sea-shore, 

 though sand is perhaps not so good a reflector 

 as snow. I should account for the lilac shadow 

 on the clay or broken-stone road in the same 

 way. It is a mingling of local color with sky 

 reflection and side lights rather than comple- 

 mentary hue. A rough surface like a green 

 lawn or a meadow will not show a colored 

 shadow at any time or under any conditions, so 

 far as my observation goes ; and I believe the 

 reason for it is that it has not a favorable sur- 

 face for reflection. 



If colors were always pure, and if side lights, 

 atmospheres, and sky reflections could be elim- 

 inated, we should undoubtedly see the scientific 

 theory of complementary colors always demon- 

 strated in nature ; but the problem is compli- 

 cated, and all talk about "pure colors " is mis- 

 leading. Nothing is pure ; everything is mixed 

 and alloyed. The neutralizing effect of side 

 lights, complementary and reflected hues, and 

 local grounds, puts scientific calculation out 



Lilac 

 shadows Of 

 clay and 

 sand. 



Mixed 

 colors fa 

 nature. 



