Portrait of Louise Comfort [Portrait de Louise Comfort]

Here, artist Bertram Brooker presents a carefully drawn sketch of Louise Comfort, who appears to be absorbed in a book. With fine cross-hatched lines, Brooker creates a contrast between light and shadow within a dynamic composition. One of Canada’s first abstract artists, Brooker was a skilled draftsman, graphic artist, and painter, who dedicated his life to art. Upon moving to Toronto in 1921, Brooker’s home served as a meeting place for many artists, including Paraskeva Clark, Kathleen Munn, and Charles Comfort, whose wife, Louise, is portrayed here.