BROKEN 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 



