Winter Logging Scene – William Withrow (Canadian) (1926-2018) – Oil on Board

A beautifully atmospheric Canadian winter landscape by William Withrow, capturing a horse-drawn logging sled making its way through deep snow. Withrow’s confident brushwork and rich, cool palette echo the post-Group of Seven tradition, emphasizing the rugged beauty of rural Ontario. Snow-laden evergreens frame a winding trail, while the figures and loaded sleigh lend the composition a nostalgic sense of Canadian heritage and hard-earned labour.
Oil on board, measuring 9 ½” x 11 ½”.

A strong and classic subject by the artist, ideal for collectors of Canadian regional painters and winter landscapes.

William J. Withrow 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.

Alongside his administrative career, Withrow continued to paint throughout his life. His landscapes—often depicting Northern Ontario, rural logging scenes, and classic Canadian winter vistas—show the strong influence of the Group of Seven and mid-century regional painters. With confident brushwork, clear structure, and a love for the rugged national landscape, his work reflects the postwar Canadian tradition of plein-air painting rooted deeply in heritage, seasonality, and place.

His paintings remain appreciated for their authentic Canadian subject matter, bold colour, and connection to the visual language of the North.