Indian Church

Private Collection, Ontario

Painted during the most prolific period of the artist's career, Carr's “Indian Church” was specifically chosen by A.J. Casson for the Sampson Matthews reproduction project-- one of the few works specifically selected by Casson for the project. Carr made a trip to Nootka Island in British Columbia and highlights the fauvist technique of colour employed by Carr. The muted tones of the church and cemetery starkly contrasts with the lush green tones of the surrounding forest creating a visual metaphor of life and death where 'life' fills the majority of the composition. Carr had a fascination with the Pacific coast and the spirituality of the Native people who inhabited the area and incorporated this inspiration into her body of work as a testament to her love of the West Coast.