# Plastic analysis

The painting adopts a rectangular format stretched lengthwise, composed of three planes. Two obliques cross the work. The first begins at the top left-hand edge, passing by the Virgin on the donkey pulled by Joseph, and ends at the path over the lake. The second oblique passes through the group of Spanish figures on the right to the bales of hay resting against the lower left edge of the foreground. A horizontal line wraps around the group in the right foreground. This same line also passes through the biblical scene and extends to the middle right-hand edge. The work was created from a central point of strength, the Virgin. This enabled the artist to build a perspective in the background, as in the Flemish-style houses on the right and the village with its church on the left. The painting is dominated by warm colors, yellow and orange, contrasting with the white of the snow and the touches of blue and red on the figures' clothing. The light is dazzling, rather natural, coming from the gray sky; we can imagine the sun piercing the snowy sky. The snow reflects this light, illuminating the villagers.