Willard Morse Mitchell (1879–1955) was a Canadian artist and architect known for his miniature watercolour landscapes of Quebec and Montreal. The Old Landmarks, 1944, depicts a quiet scene with a small stand of tall trees in the foreground. Behind them, a lake stretches across the middle ground in muted blues and greys, contrasting gently with the warm earth tones of the foreground grasses and uneven ground. Mitchell’s soft washes and careful blending of colour create a gentle, thoughtful, and wistful atmosphere, showing his sensitivity to light, tone, and the emotional feel of the landscape.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Mitchell attended Rothesay Collegiate School and trained in architecture through apprenticeships with Robert Charles John Dunn and the firm McKean & Dunn before opening his own architectural practice. He worked as town architect in Amherst, Nova Scotia, and later moved to Montreal in 1927, focusing full-time on watercolour painting. His miniature watercolours were often framed in hand-carved frames with printed labels on the reverse and sold on Canada Steamship Lines steamships and in hotel gift shops along the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes, making them popular souvenirs. Mitchell’s approach was shaped by daily observation of Quebec landscapes, urban sites, and regional landmarks.

Mitchell exhibited with the Art Association of Montreal (now the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) in 1927 and 1928 and remained active in the Montreal and Quebec art community until his death in 1955. His works are held in public collections including the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John and the Cumberland County Museum and Archives in Amherst, Nova Scotia, and are represented in private collections across Canada. This watercolour on paper is mounted in a hand-carved and gilded frame, measures 2.3 × 3.3 inches, and is signed bottom right.