Skaters, Anglesea Square

Do you have a favourite outdoor winter activity? This work by Henri Masson conjures the joys of skating. A prolific painter who remained in Ottawa for the duration of his career, Masson’s subject matter varied from figurative works and landscapes, to cityscapes such as this, which reflect the vibrancy of urban life in Ottawa in the 1930s and 1940s. First established outside a church in Lowertown, Anglesea Square (Ottawa’s oldest square) was sold to create new government buildings, and after they burned down, the square was ultimately turned into a skating rink.