A British landscape artist recently embarked on a journey to recreate a historic climb up Mont Blanc in order to document the effects of the climate crisis on Europe’s highest mountain. James Hart Dyke followed the same route taken by the first climbers to summit Mont Blanc in 1786, as well as French painter Gabriel Loppé in 1873. Hart Dyke was inspired by Loppé’s paintings of the disappearing Alps and wanted to capture the impact of the climate crisis on this iconic mountain range before it disappears completely.
During his ascent, Hart Dyke witnessed the grim reality of the climate crisis. The melting glaciers made it nearly impossible to walk on, and the once-pristine blue-white snow had been replaced by dirt and black ice. Rocks were becoming dislodged, increasing the risk of avalanches. Hart Dyke’s paintings, which will be exhibited in London, showcase the stark difference between the past and present state of the glaciers and mountains.
Hart Dyke’s passion for mountain painting was ignited during a trip to the Himalayas with Prince Charles in his early twenties. Since then, he has painted in various mountain ranges around the world, including Patagonia, the Atlas mountains, the Scottish Highlands, and the Lake District. He has also served as a war artist in Afghanistan and was an artist in residence at MI6. His recent ascent of Mont Blanc was a challenging feat, as the dramatic reduction in glacier volume has made the route heavily crevassed and less traversed.
Standing in the same spot where Loppé once stood, Hart Dyke couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the immense changes that have occurred over the years. He believes that landscape painting, although less popular in the art scene nowadays, has a powerful message to convey in the face of the climate crisis. By connecting with and appreciating the natural world around us, we can become more committed to making the necessary changes to combat climate change.
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