The Artistry of Jack Frost: Who is This Personification of Winter?

Jack Frost is a magical, mystical and mythical artist whose palette becomes anything touched with fine, feathery and fern-like artwork, visualized in the wintertime. Icy temperatures, snow and sleet help to create the wonderful artistry attributed to him. There is invariably mystery associated with his paintings on windows or the patterns seen in the ice on creeks, rivers and lakes. Supposedly, he creates the unique, huge snowflakes swirling around the globe, as well.

Who is this famous artist, Jack Frost?

Perhaps looking at some definitions of Jack Frost will reveal the truth about him and his artistry.

The freedictionary.com suggests that Jack Frost is “frost or cold weather personified”.

Many have attempted to portray Jack Frost in ancient folklore. His artistry appears evident in his depiction by others as an ageless elf, with a certain degree of impishness.   

The macmillandictionary.com suggests that he is “an imaginary person who brings the frost” and “represents winter” with his artistic expression portrayed as “ice on the ground or on a window”.

The Merriam-websterdictionary.com suggests that the name Jack Frost dates back to 1826, as “frost or frosty weather personified”.

The dictionary.com reference places that date earlier, namely from 1810 to 1825, also stating Jack Frost is “frost or freezing cold personified.”

There is a certain degree of lovable mischief attributed to Jack Frost, as his unique artistry appears when and where it is least expected. Few other artists are able to imitate it, although many have tried. Portraits of Jack Frost reveal the use of soft, winter-pastel colors, as well as icicles, in relation to depictions of his person-hood. 

The worldenglishdictionary.com portrays Jack Frost as “a personification of frost or winter”. 

It would appear that no two definitions of Jack Frost are the same, but there is a common thread of winter weather and its personification.

Cambridge Dictionaries Online argues that Jack Frost is “very cold weather”, but only “when it is thought of as a person”. 

Jack Frost seems to be unpredictable in terms of when and where he appears and does his artwork.

According to usingenglish.com “if everything has frozen in winter, then Jack Frost has visited.”

Collinsdictionary.com relates a statement, by actor Hugh Laurie. It “tells of a boy who gets named Jack Frost because everything he touches turns icy cold”.

Jane Brown depicts Jack Frost as “the last enemy” of hybrids in terms of needing to “be defeated”. Whether the definitions and legends of Jack Frost are true or not, does not really seem to matter.

Magical, mythical and mystical legends about the artistry of winter as portrayed by Jack Frost will always prevail, as the personification of winter is evidence that he has visited. One might suggest millions of people around the world love Jack Frost and marvel at his unique artistry.