Walter Joseph Phillips’s The Stump, 1928 is a 6.58 x 9 in woodcut on paper completed in 1928, signed on the bottom right and is protected by museum glass. 

Walter Joseph Phillips (1884–1963) was a Canadian artist born in England who became one of the most influential figures in the development of woodcut printmaking in Canada. After studying painting and design in England, he immigrated to Canada in 1913 and settled first in Winnipeg, where he became deeply involved in the local art community. Phillips quickly became known for his woodcuts and watercolours, both of which display a strong sense of composition, simplified form, and a sensitivity to the rhythms of nature. His print practice was shaped by early training in graphic design and an appreciation for Japanese woodblock techniques, which he adapted into a uniquely Canadian visual language.

Throughout his career, Phillips published numerous prints that celebrated landscapes, flowers, trees, and everyday scenes. His woodcuts were widely admired for their clarity of line, bold use of colour, and decorative strength, qualities that made printmaking both expressive and accessible. In addition to his artistic practice, Phillips was an influential teacher and writer on printmaking, helping to raise the profile of the medium in Canada. The Stump, 1928 exemplifies his ability to elevate a simple natural subject into a woodcut where structure and design harmonize, a hallmark of his contribution to Canadian art.