Name/Title
Looking North from Kitsilano BeachEntry/Object ID
2017.05.10Description
Painting
This is a view from Kitsilano Beach (Kits for short), one of the most popular sandy beaches in Vancouver, B.C. facing out onto English Bay. It offers panoramic views of downtown Vancouver, Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore Mountains. The painting strikes a Modernist tone, particularly in the foreground.Artwork Details
Medium
Watercolour on paperSubject Place
Region
Cascades and PlateauContinent
North AmericaContext
The Kitsilano neighbourhood was named after First Nations Squamish Chief August Jack Khatsahlano, and includes "Kits", one of the city's most popular beaches, located on the traditional territory of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Watuth peoples. Situated in Vancouver's West Side along the south shore of English Bay, a seawall now runs alongside the beach and the famed salt-water Kitsilano Pool is on the west side.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Charles (Charlie) Frederick Barker (1875-1953)Role
PainterDate made
1940Time Period
20th CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born in London, England, Charles (Charlie) Frederick Barker, was a Victoria-based artist who immigrated with his family to Vancouver at age 13. After arriving in B.C., he was employed in a variety of jobs and in the late 1920s took art lessons from two artists well-known in western Canada, John Clarke Innes (1863-1941) and John Radford RCA, (1860-1940). Around 1930, the Barkers moved to Victoria and Charlie became manager of the Durable Mat Company and later worked as a clerk at the Yarrows shipbuilding site. He still diligently pursued his art career and joined the Island Arts and Crafts Society, becoming a regular exhibitor from 1931 to 1938, and again in 1941. He served one year as Society President in 1936-37, and his work was shown at an exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1939, as well as in Toronto.
After 1946 Barker was able to devote more time to painting and teaching, and these were his most productive years as an artist. His subject matter consisted largely of local seascapes and landscapes, and he painted in the “realistic” tradition. He died in Victoria at the age of 80. He was also a member of the Vancouver Sketch Club and the Victoria Sketch Club.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Signature, InscriptionLocation
Signed and dated in red, lower right: CF Barker 40
Titled verso: Looking North from Kitsilano BeachDimensions
Dimension Description
Visible imageHeight
20.3 cmWidth
28 cmAcquisition
Acquisition Method
PurchaseDate
Nov 23, 2017Notes
Kilshaws Lot 101