Return from High Mass is an original figure painting by Pauline Larouche , created with acrylics on canvas from the "Figure" series, in a 30 x 40 inch format. Inspired by period memories, this painting sensitively recounts a significant moment in rural Quebec life of the 1960s, when Sunday High Mass still punctuated family life.

On a bright Sunday in June, a large family returns from church. The older children have already left home for work or school, while the younger ones, dressed in their Sunday best, eagerly return to the family farm. Games will soon resume after the special clothes have been carefully put away. Their gaze wanders to the old barn, the large, protective trees, the blooming lilacs, and the famous red swing that awaits the children.

At that time, the Catholic religion held a central place in Quebec society. For farmers, Mass also represented a short break between the two daily milkings of the dairy cows. After a hearty dinner, it was not uncommon for the father of the family to "take a nap," as the charming Quebec expression goes, before resuming farm work.

With its semi-figurative style, warm colors, and nostalgic atmosphere, *Return from Mass* evokes the collective memory of rural Quebec. The work celebrates the traditions, family ties, and simplicity of a time when the seasons, faith, and agricultural life shaped daily existence. Every detail invites the viewer to relive a memory or imagine their own story.

This unique work will appeal to lovers of Quebec art, family stories and emotionally charged landscapes.