Fishing Boat, NS by Jack Beder is a 5.25 x 8.5 serigraph signed bottom right. He captures a calm harbour scene in Nova Scotia, rendered in a limited palette with graphic forms. The bold maroon red and eggplant purple attribute to the time frame in which this piece was made. The reflections of the most reminiscent period of the day, where everything becomes multicoloured from the rays of the sun. Possibly at sunset or dusk, where we see a bright white circle hovering just above the horizon, casting a pale vertical shimmer on the water. The water is depicted in a pale blue and green pallet reflecting the cloudless sky. Overall, four colours dominate the colour-blocking style. The wondrous world that opens up with a boat on open water is not pictured but waits for the new day and next adventure at sea.

The glow of the sun and the tranquil of the scene evoke reflection and east-coast timelessness, while the crisp lines and bold palette preserve a modern bounce. It’s both a celebration of regional identity and an experiment in form — part of Beder’s broader love to capture Canada’s working life in different mediums like serigraphs.

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