Canadian artist William Kurelek’s winter scenes are revered and (mostly) realistic representations of winters in this country. Above: After the Blizzard in Manitoba, 1967, mixed media on Masonite, 50.8 x 73 cm.
The weather where I am in South Georgian Bay this week is great for skiers but a little intense with endless blizzards – an appropriate time to survey some of Kurelek’s winter paintings. (He didn’t just paint winters, though. Read more about Kurelek in these previous Art Junkie posts, here and here and here.)
In Reminiscences of Youth, below, Kurelek has painted himself in the frame of this winter scene. “It is as if we are looking at two different narratives in one artwork, one of the artist dreaming, and perhaps the dream he is having is of this winter scene,” notes the Art Gallery of Ontario, which holds the work.
Dive into all of William Kurelek’s art via the Art Canada Institute’s online book about him, here.
A major website, devoted to all Kurelek’s work, here.
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Thanks for sharing some of Kurelek’s work. I too recall seeing his work many years ago at the AGO.
Thanks for your comment Marsha, which just goes to show you how powerful his works are, to stick in all our minds after such a long time, mine too.
I remember some of those Kurelek’s on the walls of the AGO — just standing there looking at them, you felt the cold dry winter air washing over you.
I think there are few Canadian artists who can capture the feeling of winter better than Kurelek. Agree.