Walter Klinkhoff Gallery, Montreal
Private Collection, Toronto
Exhibited
“Canadian Women Artists,” The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto, April 27, 1996
Literature
Laura Brandon, “Pegi by Herself: The Life of Pegi Nicol MacLeod, Canadian Artist,” Kingston, 2005, pages 112-52
As one of Canada’s most celebrated women artists, Pegi Nicol MacLeod offered a glimpse into urban life in her works at a time when landscape paintings by her male counterparts often dominated the Canadian art dialogue. Living in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Fredericton and New York City, the happenings of everyday life in the city centres captured the artist’s attention. Though also working in landscape study and portraiture, MacLeod’s cityscapes have a unique energy that captures the busy energy of city life.
In this work, motion and dynamism is captured in the curving sweeping lines and bold contrasting colours which create a kaleidoscopic view of the artists vision. A technique employed in many of her works, the painterly style expresses the busyness of the city with the tightly packed figures and buildings layered with telephone wires and market stands. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, the focus of the work lies with the arresting central figure dressed in a red coat- the subject inspiring the title of the piece.
While the artist moved frequently between Canadian cities and New York City, she developed a fascination with the natural surroundings and the teeming world around her. Often painting scenes viewed from her New York City apartment window, MacLeod produced many works capturing the collective spirit of the busy urban landscape. A similar watercolour work by the artist entitled “Street Scene” (circa 1935) is part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia which also presents a figure dressed in a red coat standing in stark contrast to the surrounding dull pastel figures and buildings.
