Ethel Carrick Fox is known for her brightly coloured Post-Impressionist paintings of crowded streets, markets, cafes and beach scenes. This piece features the instantly recognisable buildings of central Canberra on a clear autumn day.
A Look at Magic’s Best Autumn Art
I really despise the summer. I recognize this puts me in the minority of human beings, as it seems everyone I talk to cherishes any opportunity to experience the outdoors. Naturally, outdoor activities can be easiest to plan and engage in throughout the months of May, June, July, and August (in the northern hemisphere).
That’s not for me. My favorite season has always been winter, and that first bitter chill and cold morning frost really excites me for the season to come. Snow, reduced allergies, and generally cooler weather are all top reasons why I look forward to the colder months.
With that background, it’s no wonder that I start to feel my mood improving this time of year. As days shorten and mornings gradually become more brisk, I find myself more excited to open my windows and appreciate the fresh air outside. I love the Autumn season just as much for the changing climate as I do because it foretells the coming winter season.
Autumn Creatures for the Mood
In honor of the changing seasons, I wanted to explore some of Magic’s most autumnal artwork. It turns out, there are a number of pieces that directly fit the theme.
A quick search in Scryfall reveals ten cards with “autumn” directly in the card’s name! It sounds like someone at Wizards of the Coast also appreciates the aesthetic of the Fall season. Granted, not all cards fit the category. Kitsune Mystic, for example, shows up because its flip side is called Autumn-Tail, Kitsune Sage. The artwork doesn’t appear to relate to the Autumn season. Likewise, Shizuko, Caller of Autumn may be beckoning to the season, but its artwork doesn’t do much to depict it.
On the other hand, some cards really scream “Fall” to me. One of my favorite examples is Daughter of Autumn, from Homelands.
Margaret Organ-Kean is one of my favorite classic Magic artists (my personal favorite if Lion’s Eye Diamond). The woman in this picture is depicted holding an apple (a classic autumn fruit), wearing green, and gesturing towards a tree that shed all it’s beautifully colored leaves. The card itself isn’t relevant in Magic today, but the artwork will always hold a place in my heart. I suspect this legend is related to another Homelands classic, Autumn Willow.
While there is a tree in the background and I see some green coloring in the piece, I must say the Daughter of Autumn does a better job encapsulating the aesthetic of Autumn.
Modern-day cards related to Autumn include Augur of Autumn, Knight of Autumn, and Leionre, Autumn Sovereign.
If I had to take my choice, I’d choose Ryan Pancoast’s Knight of Autumn as my favorite artwork for depicting the resonance of Autumn. The colors remind me of falling leaves, and you can possibly make out some fallen leaves on the ground in the image. Ultimately, though, I think the weapon the lady in the foreground is holding reminds me of a Selesnya-themed rake. I wonder if she cleans leaves when she’s not pumping creatures or gaining you life.
Augur of Autumn and Leinore also use colors that scream “Fall,” with many greens, browns, yellows, and oranges. Each of these pieces is truly well-done and puts me in the mood for a beautiful Fall season.
Autumn Spells
Creatures in Magic aren’t the only card types that explicitly scream “Autumn” in their name and art. There is also one instant, one sorcery, and one enchantment with the word “Autumn” it its name.
For the enchantment, that card is Autumnal Gloom.
I don’t know if this card ever saw relevant play, but the artwork by Jaime Jones does a fantastic job depicting what the Fall must look like in a rural spot on Innistrad. The bare trees, and sunlight peeking through creates a thought-provoking landscape of colors and shadows that really bring the season to life. I can’t help but look at the dark figure in the background and shiver—partly because he is ominous holding his weapon, and partly because you feel the cool weather that must prevail this time of year. This is truly a masterpiece.
The instant is none other than Autumn Veil:
Not to be confused with its overpowered (banned in Pioneer) counterpart Veil of Summer, Autumn’s Veil is one of the most literal depictions of Fall out of this group. The figure in the art is literally surrounded by tons of fallen leaves of yellows, greens, and oranges. The art in total is a little more abstract than some of the rest, but no less reminiscent of an October day.
Last but not least, the sorcery on this list is perhaps the most literal card for this time of year: Edge of Autumn. After all, this article is being written on September 25th, just two days into the Autumn season.
I don’t know enough about the storyline to explain why a person is floating on a giant, fallen leaf in the artwork. That said, you certainly can’t argue with the Autumn vibes depicted on the card. In my opinion this card looks a little too bright and sunny, but then again, it’s still reaching 80 degrees here where I live so perhaps the brightness and warmth depicted is perfect for the “edge of Autumn.”
1. Saint Paul’s Hospital Garden (“Falling Leaves”), Vincent van Gogh, 1889
Vincent van Gogh often used his surroundings in his works and saw the beauty of the world even in the most turbulent times. For example, that painting was inspired by the large garden of the hospital where Vincent van Gogh entered in 1889. Amazed by the beauty of falling leaves, he originally called the painting “Falling Leaves”. In the work, the colours are earthy and cool, and we see a lonely figure surrounded by leaves in the wind.
2. Autumn leaves, Yokoyama Taikan, 1931
Yokoyama Taikan was responsible for popularising the nihong technique. A style that emerged around 1900 where works were made using traditional Japanese art practices and materials. This painting is one of the most impressive examples of his work. In the piece, Taikan painted most of the cosmos in ultramarine blue and added white silver dots in the form of clouds and rocks. The fresh blue contrasts with the red autumn leaves, which bring warmth to the scene. The result is a sensitive interpretation of the changing seasons.
3. Autumn on the Seine, Argenteuil (Automne sur la Seine Argenteuil) by Claude Monet, 1873
Claude Monet created this work shortly after arriving in Argenteuil in 1871. It presents the Petit Bras, a branch of the Seine. In the background, you can see recognisable architectural landmarks such as Château Michelet. Light, shadow and reflection are important qualities in Monet’s work, and in this case, his use of muted autumnal colours is reflected in the water below, resulting in an interesting symmetry. The reflection makes it difficult to distinguish between the reflected colours and their sources, which adds intrigue to the work.
