Canoes

About this object

History of use

Based on stylistic characteristics, Doris Shadbolt (1975) attributes these watercolours to about 1895. The scenes are mainly from the Victoria area, and the Fraser Valley. They predate Emily Carr's trips to coastal indigenous villages, but the prevalence of canoes and forests attest to her early interest in these themes, which she developed fully in her later paintings.

Cultural context

Canadian art; late 19th century watercolours.

Physical description

Small, rectangular shaped, watercolour study with three brown Northwest Coast style canoes at bank on right. There is a figure in black sitting in one of the canoes. Above the canoes is a small house with stairs and a yellow tree with brown branches, behind. Water is light yellow with darker reflections below canoes. Two grey ships(?) in distance. Sky is blue above white clouds. Image mounted on cream backing card.