Carl Ahrens painting from the 1886–1900 period

Early Paintings (1886–1900)

The earliest period of Carl Ahrens' painting career spans the years 1886 to 1900, encompassing his formative years as an artist. During this time Ahrens worked across a range of locations — from the plains of Nebraska, to the forests Ontario, to the Roycroft community in East Aurora, New York — developing the distinctive techniques that would define his mature work.

Works from this period are relatively rare. Many were given as gifts, sold informally, or have passed through private hands without documentation.

Featured Art

Cradled in the Net — Cradled in the Net
Oil on canvas
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed upper right, 1891
Private Collection
This painting, alternately titled The Fisherman's Child, was given the place of honor at the biennial exhibition of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1893. Also shown in that same year at the Chicago World's Columbian Exhibition. Ahrens used his own son, Robert Laird Ahrens (1888-1969) as a model.

Lyrical Summer Landscape — Lyrical Summer Landscape
Oil on board
18 x 23 cm
Signed 1896
Private Collection
Photo by Chris Keith

Plowing the Field — Plowing the Field
Oil on canvas
30.5 x 35.5 cm
Signed
Private Collection
Photo by Wendy Miller

Saugeen First Nations Church — Saugeen First Nations Church
Watercolor on paper
17 x 26.4 cm
Signed c. 1896
Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
A962.053.001
Ahrens and his first family were all adopted into this Ojibwa tribe, whose reservation is near the town of Southampton, Ontario, in 1896. He likely painted this while living there. The church still stands.

Marshy Landscape With House — Marshy Landscape With House
Watercolor on paper
15 x 29 cm
Signed 1888
Private Collection
Photo by Private Collector

Haystacks — Haystacks
Oil on paperboard
43 x 53 cm
Signed
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery
Gift of Mrs. Helen Bridle - 1993
Photo by Chris Keith

Farm and Trees — Farm and Trees
Oil on canvas
66 x 81 cm
Signed after 1892
Private Collection
Photo by Private Collector

Fishing in Pond — Fishing in Pond
Watercolor on paper
29 x 34 cm
Signed lower left
Collection of Don and Joyce Blyth
Photo by rych mills

British Encampment on the Plains — British Encampment on the Plains
Watercolor on paper
15 x 30.5 cm
Signed 1888
Private Collection
Photo by Chris Keith

Untitled Lakeshore Scene — Untitled Lakeshore Scene
Watercolor on paper
15 x 29 cm
Signed 1888
Private Collection
Photo by Private Collector

Cabin in the Woods — Cabin in the Woods
Watercolor on paper
15 x 28 cm
Signed 1888
Private Collection
Photo by Chris Keith

Harvesting — Harvesting
Oil on panel
14 x 23 cm
Signed / Undated
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Kim Bullock
This painting was recently cleaned by Helen Houp.

Camp on the Plains — Camp on the Plains
Watercolor on paper
15 x 30.5 cm
Signed 1888
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes

The Day is Done — The Day is Done
Oil on canvas
58.5 x 84 cm
Signed 1890
Collection of Sandu Sindile
Photo by Sandu Sindile

Washing at the River — Washing at the River
Watercolor on paper
25.5 x 33 cm
Signed lower right / undated
Collection of George and Dora Pepall
Photo by Deborah Downes

Moonlit Farm Scene — Moonlit Farm Scene
Oil on board
79 x 63.5 cm
Signed 1898
Private Collection
This painting was likely done in Doon, Ontario

Poplars Near Doon — Poplars Near Doon
Oil on canvas
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed
Private Collection

Indian Settlement — Indian Settlement
Watercolor on paper
14 x 28.5 cm
Signed 1889
Private Collection

Nearing the Night — Nearing the Night
Oil on canvas
66 x 82 cm
Signed 1895
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery - Purchased 1977
Photo by Chris Keith

Near Doon — Near Doon
Oil on board
40.5 x 57 cm
Signed lower right
Private Collection
Photo by John Yost

Figures on the Shore — Figures on the Shore
Oil on canvas
23 x 44.5 cm
Signed 1888
Collection of Kim Bullock
Acquired from the estate of rych mills
Photo by Sandu Sindile
This painting was included in the Views of Canada - Victorian Age Landscape Painters exhibition held at the Dundas Museum & Archives in Dundas, Ontario, from June 19th to September 2nd in 2014.

Ripe Corn Time — Ripe Corn Time
Oil on canvas
65 x 80 cm
Signed 1895
Government of Ontario Art Collection / Archives of Ontario
Photo by Chris Keith

Untitled Landscape With Sheep — Untitled Landscape With Sheep
Oil on canvas
30.5 x 46 cm
Signed lower left
Collection of Barbara Todd
The signature is old and includes 'ARCA.' Carl was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy in March of 1891 and resigned in 1900. He rarely signed anything with that designation. A note on the back of the painting indicates the sheep were actually painted by Carl's friend, Homer Watson.

Self Portrait — Self Portrait
Watercolor on paper
10 x 7.5 cm
Unsigned c. 1886
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
According to the notes on the back of this painting, this was among Carl Ahrens' first paintings. It is one of the few left unsigned. It is still in the family, so we are certain the work is his.

Country Lane — Country Lane
Watercolor on paper
16 x 21 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Acquired from the estate of rych mills
Photo by Sandu Sindile

Trees Along the Shoreline — Trees Along the Shoreline
Watercolor on paper
Signed
Private Collection

Untitled Lakeshore — Untitled Lakeshore
Oil on Masonite
43 x 53 cm
Signed
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery
Gift of Helen Bridle - 1993
Photo by Chris Keith

Lonely Boat at Sunset — Lonely Boat at Sunset
Oil on canvas
Signed (before 1890)
Private Collection
Photo by Private Collector

Cow and Shepherd — Cow and Shepherd
Oil on Board
30.5 x 25.5 cm
Signed
Private Collection

At the Seashore — At the Seashore
Oil on board
15.24 x 20.32 cm
Signed before 1892
Collection of Al Rain