This painting depicts the iconic Parisian cemetery Cimetière du Père-Lachaise during a clear winter day. The quiet cobblestone path, lined by historic mausoleums, tombs and nineteenth-century monuments, stretches between the bare trees whose graceful branches filter the soft winter light. The layer of fresh snow covering the tombs muffles every sound and gives the place an almost mystical calm, as if time and space stood still for a moment.
In the distance, warm, golden sunlight catches the façade of some weathered tombs, creating a beautiful contrast between the cool winter blues and the sunny glow. This combination highlights the unique atmosphere of Père-Lachaise: on the one hand a serene cemetery where silence prevails, and on the other an open-air museum full of culture, history and architecture.
In creating this work, I used digital painting techniques, based on a self-taken photograph I took on site. By enhancing light, colour and texture, I wanted to make the poetic winter atmosphere of this world-famous cemetery even more intensely tangible.
Created by Geert Van Baelen with support from AI.
Geert Van Baelen has been working as a press photographer in Belgium for over 20 years. Besides current affairs, he also finds inspiration for his images in everyday life, landscapes and people... Read more…