XII 



AFTERMATH 



THE beginning and the end 

 of the natural year are alike 

 in simplicity of form and 

 un draped outlines. The 

 foreground and vanishing 

 point are sketched by the etch- 

 er's tool ; it is only the broader 

 middle distance that is dense 

 with foliage and sensuous color. 

 As at the dawn of Spring, 

 the half-tones of Pussy Willow and 

 Catkin -tassels lead the way toward 

 brilliant flower color, so when the finger 

 of frost touches the bright petals, after- 

 math, in form of clouds of smoky plant 

 down, fantastic seed -pods, nuts and Win- 



\ii ter berries, draws the eye again toward 

 | somber tints, black, the absorber of all 

 ty colors, and white, its opposite tree shad- 

 ows upon the snow. 



Who can predict the date of the coming of 

 frost with certainty ? One season the field flowers 

 U S^i 



