Snowballs

Children at play in the snow animate this 1912 color woodcut, printed on Japan paper (washi) that gives the image a characteristic softness and absorbency. The subject of snowball throwing combines physical energy with seasonal specificity — the cold-weather setting conveyed through color choices and the implied texture of packed snow. Lum captures the uninhibited movement of children, their bodies twisting and arms extended in the act of throwing, creating a composition full of diagonal energy. Japan paper's long fibers absorb the water-based pigments deeply, producing colors that seem to glow from within rather than sitting on the surface. This material quality adds warmth to a winter subject, the paper itself contradicting the coldness of the depicted scene with its gentle luminosity.