William Balfour Ker
Illustration of a Pair of Snakes, 1903
Gouache and graphite on board
5 x 7 inches
With Ker's signature recto and manuscript notations and date verso.
With Ker's signature recto and manuscript notations and date verso.
A bold and dynamic early 20th-century illustration showing a pair of snakes with their fangs at the ready, drawn by the Canadian-American artist William Balfour Ker. A native of Ontario,...
A bold and dynamic early 20th-century illustration showing a pair of snakes with their fangs at the ready, drawn by the Canadian-American artist William Balfour Ker.
A native of Ontario, Canada, Balfour Ker (1877-1918) moved to the United States in 1880 and was raised in North Yakima, Washington. He worked as a reporter in Washington D.C. and took up art in Paris, at one point studying under Howard Pyle. He later painted covers for publications including “Life” and “The Deliniator.” An avowed socialist, Ker illustrated various texts in books and magazines which reflected his views on poverty and the class struggle. Ker's illustrations were cited by authors such as Upton Sinclair in discussions about socioeconomical issues of the progressive era.
A native of Ontario, Canada, Balfour Ker (1877-1918) moved to the United States in 1880 and was raised in North Yakima, Washington. He worked as a reporter in Washington D.C. and took up art in Paris, at one point studying under Howard Pyle. He later painted covers for publications including “Life” and “The Deliniator.” An avowed socialist, Ker illustrated various texts in books and magazines which reflected his views on poverty and the class struggle. Ker's illustrations were cited by authors such as Upton Sinclair in discussions about socioeconomical issues of the progressive era.