Signed and dated 1973 front lower right.

Featured in the publication  Prairie Boys Winter.  Kurelek writes:

William behaved like children all over the world at the first snowfall. He became giddy with excitement and held his mouth open to catch the first big juicy flakes spiraling slowly downward. Immediately after school, William and Winnie were sent by their mother to fetch the cows. For the past few days the animals had been huddling under the straw pile to keep warm. From now until spring they would remain in the barn, apart from a brief daily visit to the water trough. This year Williams father had managed to lay up plenty of cattle feed for the winter. Two large clover stacks have been built beside the Warmer south side of the barn, and a silo hole had been filled with ensilage and covered over. Ensilage is finally chopped green corn that has partly fermented under its own weight. Cows go crazy over there daily ration of it - one fork for per cow - just as cats do over catnip. But their main dinner was he, and some of that was already in the hayloft.

William Kurelek was a celebrated Canadian artist known for his vivid, narrative paintings that explore themes of Prairie life, Ukrainian heritage, religious faith, and personal struggle. Born in Alberta and raised in Manitoba during the Great Depression, Kurelek drew heavily on his childhood experiences, rural landscapes, and immigrant roots to create some of the most iconic images in Canadian art.

Kurelek studied briefly in Canada and Mexico, but was largely self-taught. His time in England, including years spent in psychiatric hospitals and as a master framer, shaped both his technical skills and inner vision. By the 1960s, he had established himself as a major figure in Canadian art, with exhibitions across the country and works acquired by major institutions, including MoMA in New York.

Today, William Kurelek’s paintings are highly sought after by collectors and institutions alike. His legacy continues to resonate through his powerful storytelling and devotion to portraying Canadian life with honesty, complexity, and compassion.