Canadian Painter & Renowned Art Gallery of Ontario Director, William J. Withrow (1926-2018) “Forest Trail in Winter” Impressionistic Oil on Board, Mid-Late 20th Century

William J. Withrow (1926–2018) was a respected Canadian painter and arts administrator whose career bridged both artistic practice and cultural leadership. Born in Toronto in 1926, he studied at the Ontario College of Art and later became one of the most influential figures in Canadian museum culture. From 1961 to 1991, he served as Director of the Art Gallery of Ontario, overseeing a transformative period of growth, expansion, and international recognition for the AGO.

Well documented for his leadership in the Canadian art world, Withrow paintings reveal a more personal creative practice. They offer insight into his sensitivity to the Canadian landscape and environment—the same sensitivity that shaped his curatorial and institutional decisions.

This oil on board titled “Forest Trail in Winter”  explores a quiet Canadian winter woodland scene. It reflects the post-Group of Seven tradition of Canadian landscape painting, emphasizing the rugged beauty of rural Ontario. The composition features evergreens framing a winding snowy trail and is painted in an impressionistic manner.  Visible, expressive brushstrokes focuses on capturing light, especially in the interplay of natural light on the snow. The naturalistic sophisticated colour palette creates a sense of depth and stillness. The compositional balance between the forest edge and the clearing created by the winding trail draws you in and leads your eye to explore the landscape.

Withrow’s artistic style prioritizes mood, environment, and light over strict realism. An artist deeply familiar with the Canadian landscape, working with a painter’s eye for colour temperature, shadow, and seasonal nuance.

Dimensions: Image: height 9″ x width 11″  Frame: height 16″ x width 18″ x depth 1.5″