Sold for: $16,250

PROVENANCE
The Isaacs Gallery Ltd., Toronto
By descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto

LITERATURE
William Kurelek, Kurelek's Canada, 1975, page 33

In Kurelek’s Canada, the artist recalled that out West, the kitchen was “often the only warm room in the house and we all gathered there.” For Kurelek, the stove becomes emblematic of the family, acting as a source of heat, as a valuable tool, and as a social centre. The warmth of the domestic hearth is evident here.

As seen in many of Kurelek’s paintings, the scene is propelled by a sense of nostalgia for rural life and the pleasure of small moments - intimate, cozy, and perhaps slightly wistful. A home-made crèche filled with newborn chicks is placed next to a lit kitchen stove, glowing with the warmth of heavy use. A curious girl peeks in from the edge of the frame, leaning over the makeshift walls to watch the small birds huddling against the warmth of the stove, or pecking aimlessly at the ground. She is fascinated by the little things, and her adoration gives us the painting’s title. The orange glow of the fire radiates out and is reflected off the kettle put on the boil, while the repeated colour of the girl’s top suggests that a more familial warmth can be found throughout the rest of the home. This sense of domestic intimacy is further extended out through the artist-made frame that houses the painting, recalling the edging of the stove’s doors and giving the entire surface of the work a smouldering, interior radiance.

This work is in the original frame made by Kurelek.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars

Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.