Lot #100: Original Mid-Century Oil Painting "Feeding the Pigeons" by Isabel Cooper

Original Mid-Century Oil Painting "Feeding the Pigeons" by Isabel Cooper Title: Original Mid-Century Oil Painting "Feeding the Pigeons" by Isabel Cooper Artist: Isabel Cooper (Canadian, active mid-to-late 20th century) Medium: Oil on Canvas (OOC) Canvas Dimensions: 24" x 18" (Standard Portrait Format) Framed Dimensions: 30" x 24" (Inclusive of original mid-century custom wooden frame with linen-lined border) Signature: Signed "I. Cooper" in cursive, lower left corner Provenance: Complete original exhibition tags intact on reverse side Description & Subject Matter Presenting an exceptional, authentic slice of mid-century Canadian urban realism. Titled "Feeding the Pigeons," this stunning 24" x 18" oil on canvas depicts a charming, candid street scene. The composition centers on a young girl in a vibrant coral-orange dress, crouched low on a flagstone city walkway, deeply captivated by a flock of pigeons surrounding her feet. The artist skillfully introduces movement and depth by framing the background with the passing legs of city pedestrians and soft architectural details. Cooper balances a classic post-impressionistic style with textured, deliberate brushwork, capturing the play of light and shadow across the stone pavement beautifully. The artwork comes housed in its gorgeous, heavy, period-correct 30" x 24" frame with a traditional cream fabric liner that presents beautifully on modern walls. Artist Profile & Provenance Isabel Cooper was an independent regional painter active in the Greater Toronto Area during the mid-to-late 20th century. Her work focused heavily on regional figurative subjects, everyday slice-of-life moments, and urban Ontario streetscapes. This specific piece boasts excellent historical integrity for collectors. The reverse side retains its original handwritten gallery exhibition labels, detailing Cooper's studio workspace at 96 Portage Avenue in the historic Toronto neighborhood of Weston, alongside her mid-century telephone number, medium notation, and original exhibition listing price of 175.00. The presence of matching master and tear-away submission tags indicates this piece was featured in a prominent local art council or gallery juried exhibition.Condition ReportPainting: Excellent vintage condition. The oil paint remains vibrant with stable, healthy impasto texture. No noticeable canvas sagging, chipping, or paint loss. Frame: Original mid-century wood frame is structurally sound with minimal age-appropriate wear. Fabric liner is clean and intact. Reverse: Vintage paper exhibition slips remain attached, showing honest, light aging to the paper and adhesive consistent with its history. A beautiful acquisition opportunity for collectors of mid-century Canadian art, Toronto regional history, or classic figurative impressionism Nearest intersection Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue Pickup category timeslot {A}