Feeding Douglas by Jack Beder is a 13..5 x 10.25 oil painting acquired directly from the estate, signed in the bottom left corner.

This painting reflects the domestic and family life, themes that reflected much of his work during this period. From the viewer's standpoint, a mother feeding a baby from a bottle is captured in rich, expressive brushstrokes and a warm colour palette. Portrayed are Katie and Douglas, Beder’s wife and son.

In this intimate perspective, Beder captures the quiet tenderness between wife and infant. Beder’s wife, Katie, is clothed in a patterned green robe, possibly with a red and white towel to cover in case of spit-up, as she cradles Douglas in her arms while gently feeding him from a bottle. The background is composed of loose brush strokes of ochre, green, and brown, adding neutral tones complimentary of the central figures. Douglas’s blue clothing and the mother's facial features are painted broad, with vivid colours and dynamic lines. Beder’s modernist approach is evident in the stylized forms and bold palette while holding emotional warmth. The painting’s strength lies in the universal theme of care and affection — a powerful study of maternal love.

This piece was displayed in our Rookleys exhibition, Jack Beder: Life and Art in Canada.