Farmhouse in the Snow c. 1920

Helene Mass created this small color woodcut titled 'Farmhouse in the Snow,' capturing a winter scene with a charming naivety. The muted tones and the way the snow sits on the branches suggest a quiet, contemplative process. Looking closely, you can see how the texture of the woodblock influences the image. The lines are soft and slightly blurred, giving the scene a dreamlike quality. The colors—ochre, soft blue, and touches of green—are applied in thin, transparent layers, allowing the paper to peek through. This creates a sense of light and air, even in the midst of winter. Notice the way the white of the snow is also the white of the paper. The bare branches of the trees, laden with snow, reach across the image like delicate brushstrokes. The blue of the porch in the background is a tiny jewel, which offers a subtle contrast to the otherwise earth-toned palette. Mass invites us to see the beauty in simplicity, and the magic in the everyday. There's something of the later Bonnard in this approach. Art isn't about perfection, it's about feeling, and Mass certainly captures that here.