Snowfall 1939

Jacob Kainen made this color woodcut called "Snowfall" in 1939, a time when printmaking was really taking off. I can imagine him in his studio, layering those colors, one block at a time. You see how he's got these strong diagonals slashing through the scene? That's the snow, of course, but it's also pure energy, a way of making the ordinary feel dynamic. He was part of that generation looking at German Expressionism, right? You can see it in those bold, simplified shapes and the way he captures a mood more than a literal scene. I love how the red coat pops against the muted blues and grays – it’s like a little beacon of warmth in the cold. Kainen knew how to make color sing. And even though it's "just" a print, you can feel the hand of the artist in every mark, every choice. It’s a conversation with the world, and with other artists, about how to see.