This winter woodland scene by Merrill Coffin captures a quiet, meaningful moment rooted in tradition, family, and the rhythms of rural life. Set beneath a canopy of bare trees dusted with snow, the painting depicts a man dressed in a hunter’s orange coat collecting sap, accompanied by a child who carefully crosses a narrow stream by balancing on a fallen tree.
The season is unmistakably late winter. Snow blankets the ground in soft, muted whites and grays, while the dark trunks of maple trees rise starkly against the pale background. Metal sap buckets hang from the trees, their silvery surfaces catching the cold light, signaling the beginning of sugaring season—a time-honored ritual that marks the slow turning toward spring.
The adult figure, sturdy and focused, moves with practiced ease through the woods, embodying knowledge passed down through generations. Nearby, the child’s presence brings a sense of tenderness and learning. Carefully stepping across the stream, the child mirrors the quiet trust and curiosity that define early experiences in nature. The fallen tree serving as a bridge is both literal and symbolic—a passage between safety and risk, childhood and responsibility.
Coffin’s brushwork balances detail with atmosphere. The flowing stream cuts a dark, moving ribbon through the snow, adding life and motion to the otherwise still landscape. Subtle blues and grays suggest cold air and damp ground beneath the frozen surface, while the warm orange of the coats draws the eye and reinforces the human connection within the scene.
More than a depiction of sap collection, this painting tells a story of mentorship, patience, and shared work. It reflects Coffin’s deep affection for everyday rural moments—those small, easily overlooked experiences that quietly shape memory and tradition. In this winter woods, the act of gathering sap becomes a lesson in balance, care, and continuity, preserved in paint with warmth and respect.
If you happen to be the possessor of this artwork, we would greatly appreciate your commenting below. Unfortunately, we don’t possess any information about this particular piece; the title was created based on the subject matter.
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