Oil on cotton duck. Fir trees stand like sentinels along each side of an icy, snow-covered road, which recedes sharply into the distance. Wisps of mist appear to linger between the tree trunks, adding to an atmosphere of profound stillness and cold. "Towards Norway" is part of a series of paintings made by Thompson during a stay in Scandinavia, which was made possible through a scholarship. While staying in the village of Hetta, in the far north of Finland, Thompson walked this route daily, taking him from his cabin in the woods into the village, where he could collect food and provisions. Walking along this road in the winter light had a profound effect on him. Though it was his own daily route, it was also the main road towards the border with Norway.
