PROVENANCE
A Distinguished Private Collection, Ontario

LITERATURE
J. Russell Harper, Krieghoff, 1999, a very similar work titled Fishermen on Lake St. Charles, late 1850s, reproduced page 115, plate 107

A vivid depiction of a warm fall day, Anglers at the Big Rock reveals Cornelius Krieghoff as a keen observer of both the natural world and his fellow humans. The richly coloured foliage of the trees suggests an early fall day, just as the leaves begin to turn. This riot of reds, yellows and greens and the commanding Big Rock of the title allow Krieghoff to place his figures securely within the landscape. Note the reduced intensity of these colours as they recede into the distance on the left side of the canvas. This simple device enables Krieghoff to convincingly suggest the recession of the shoreline and defines the space in which this scene occurs.

It is, however, the three figures—one aboard a raft at left, and two on the right shore—to which Krieghoff has devoted the most attention. The figure on the raft is dressed in a bright red shirt, white trousers and a light-coloured hat. The red of his shirt contrasts brilliantly with the blue of the water on which the raft floats. To his left is a fish basket. He, like his compatriots onshore, is lit by sunlight that streams into the composition from the left.

Krieghoff dedicated even more attention to the two figures ashore. One man, positioned right of centre, readies his long fishing rod. To his left is a wicker fish basket and another item, perhaps a kettle, and to his right is a package on which a rifle rests. Beside the latter is what appears to be a jacket, which likely belongs to the man tending the fire. The man preparing his rod is well dressed, sporting a long white jacket, dark hat and brown trousers. On his left side, seemingly from a cross-body strap, hangs a small creel. The man tending the fire has doffed his jacket but still wears a hat, blue trousers, red belt and white shirt.

It is interesting that Krieghoff has been so detailed in his depiction of the men’s clothing even as he avoided specificity in their faces. Clearly the artist wanted his viewers to relate to the activities of these men, without being distracted by their identities. These anglers represent all who engaged in this pastime. The fact that Krieghoff has included a rifle in this idyllic scene hints at the dangers of the nineteenth-century Canadian landscape. Ironically, despite Krieghoff’s close attention to the details of this landscape, it is likely that this scene existed only in his imagination. This work was painted in the artist’s studio rather than in situ. That it is so convincing is the measure of Krieghoff’s skill.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars