Two Fishermen, circa 1935-1940

Manuge Gallery, Halifax Private Collection, Toronto

"Maud Lewis", Manuge Gallery, Halifax, circa 1980

Created in the late 1940s, "Two Fishermen" encapsulates Maud Lewis’s signature folk style and her sentimental portrayal of rural life in Nova Scotia. The painting depicts an idyllic coastal scene, with fishermen casting their lines and a moored sailboat set against rolling green hills and colourful seaside buildings. Lewis’s trademark flattened perspective and bold colour palette lend her work a sense of cheer and clarity, capturing everyday moments with a unique and heartfelt vision. Although Lewis gained some recognition during her lifetime, it was not until circa 1980—more than a decade after her death—that her first commercial exhibition was held at the Manuge Gallery in Halifax. Since then, her work has been exhibited across Canada, solidifying her status as an iconic figure in Canadian art.