Sailing

Description

In Sailing, William Kurelek brings his characteristic wit and keen observational detail to a breezy, light-hearted coastal scene. Two small sailboats—cheekily christened Sea Gull and Cormorant—race through a crystalline expanse of blue, their white sails catching the wind as they arc past a solitary red buoy.

The humor in the piece emerges subtly but unmistakably: a sailor tumbles overboard from the Cormorant, his upturned feet comically breaking the surface. It’s a classic moment of understated mischief, rendered with the same narrative warmth and precision that define Kurelek’s most beloved works.

Kurelek, one of Canada’s most celebrated artists, often used seemingly quiet scenes to suggest deeper undercurrents of memory, irony, or wonder. In this work, the action is framed in a palette of softened sky blues and gentle white, faintly mellowed by age into a serene, nostalgic atmosphere—like a summer recollection blurred by time.

Beautifully presented in a warm-toned double mat and gold-toned frame, this lithograph is a testament to Kurelek’s ability to fuse the poetic with the playful. It’s an evocative addition to any collection of Canadian art, maritime scenes, or mid-century printmaking.

Condition: Good condition overall. Minor even fading consistent with age.

Vertical
20
Horizontal
18
Depth
2