Canadian Fine Art Auction

November 23, 2015

LOT 22

Lot 22

WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.

WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
Lot 22 Details
WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.

GOD PROVIDES, 1964

watercolour and gouache on card
signed with initials
14 ins x 9 ins; 35.6 cms x 24.1 cms

Estimate $15,000-$20,000

Realised: $14,160
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
  • WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
  • WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
  • WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
  • WILLIAM KURELEK, R.C.A.
Provenance:

The Isaacs Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Toronto

Literature:

William Kurelek, Lumberjack, Tundra Books, Montreal, 1974, unpaginated.

Note:

Determined to study art in Europe, William Kurelek found himself in lumber camps of northern Ontario and Quebec – earning and saving funds to pay his way as quickly as possible. Deemed unfit by the foreman upon his first sight of the artist, Kurelek later quipped that it was in the wilds of the forest that he earned his reputation as “a worker.”

Much like Kurelek himself, the lumberjack depicted in this lot finds himself isolated in a dark and dense surround. He pauses for a moment – resting from his hardship to be soothed by the cool, refreshing waters of a forest stream. Through the heightened white bark and the phosphorescent greens of the lichen and the moss, Kurelek creates a magical atmosphere. The presence of the warbling bird in the top right hand corner of the scene suggests that, to Kurelek, divine intervention may have led the labourer to refreshment.

As technology ushered in more efficient and faster methods for harvesting, the number of lumberjacks dramatically diminished. Kurelek writes, “Was our old way, for all its hardships, more romantic, more humane, more socially satisfying? I leave the answers to others. I only know I am glad to have been a part of that good life before it passed into history.”

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 22
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.