Pekka Halonen became known to the public in the 1890s as a painter of the Finnish winter. Snow-Covered Pine Saplings represents Finnish Japonism and Art Nouveau in painting. The soft snow that covers the saplings creates a peaceful atmosphere with its different shades of white. Throughout his life, Halonen was particularly fond of trees in all seasons. However, Snow-Covered Pine Saplings is quite an exceptional forest depiction in all of Halonen's extensive landscape production, since the trees are only saplings and the soft snow cover emphasizes their fragile beauty.