Ken Danby was a renowned Canadian realist painter, known for his detailed and technically precise depictions of everyday life and nature. Painted in 1965, Open Door is a realist watercolour work measuring 18 by 29 inches that captures a weathered barn set against a quintessential Canadian winter landscape.

The composition shows a barn door, opening onto a snow-covered landscape, with natural winter light casting soft shadows and highlighting textures. The fence on the right seems to be dilapidated, and the barn is rustic with wear. Danby’s control of the watercolour medium is evident in the transparent washes and nuanced gradations of cool tones that convey the chill and stillness of winter.

Signed and dated by the artist in the bottom right corner, Open Door is preserved under museum-quality glass, which protects the delicate pigments and paper from environmental damage such as fading and moisture.