Early Snow in October by Herbert Sidney Palmer is a 20 x 25 inch oil on canvas that was produced circa 1930 and signed in the bottom left by the artist. The piece depicts an overcast day in early winter. Rust coloured leaves still cling to the trees but there is a light snow covering the ground. A large barn sits off to one side, a heap of grain piled in front. Sheep graze in the field surrounding the farm and a flock of birds fly over the rolling hills in the distance. The painting elicits the calm and bittersweet feeling that comes during October in Canada when the days grow short and frost clings to the air.

Palmer was well known for his pastoral scenes and his astute use of colour, as exhibited in this piece. He spent his career focused largely on creating rich landscapes as well as advocating for the arts in Canada.