Thoreau MacDonald "Wolverine Looking for Off Far"

Updated August 7, 2026

Artist: Thoreau MacDonald (Canadian, 1901–1989) Title: Wolverine Looking for Off Far (as inscribed) Medium: Graphite on paper Inscription: Inscribed lower margin, "Wolverine Looking for Off Thy, To ? Ayne, 25/10/78" (as written). Sight Size: 4 × 5.5 in. Frame Size: 9.5 × 10.5 in. A charming original graphite sketch depicting a standing wolverine with a lightly rendered northern landscape. Executed in Thoreau MacDonald's unmistakable economical style, the drawing reflects the artist's lifelong fascination with Canadian wildlife and the natural world. The work bears a personal presentation inscription dated October 25, 1978, adding an intimate and collectible quality. Small, personal drawings by MacDonald are highly sought after by collectors, particularly when they feature animal subjects and handwritten inscriptions. The work's simplicity, humour, and directness embody the qualities that have made MacDonald one of Canada's most admired illustrators and graphic artists. Artist Biography: Thoreau MacDonald (1901–1989) was one of Canada's foremost graphic artists, illustrators, book designers, and naturalists. The son of J. E. H. MacDonald, a founding member of the Group of Seven, he developed an artistic language distinctly his own. Although largely self-taught and colour-blind, MacDonald became celebrated for his masterful black-and-white drawings, wood engravings, linocuts, and book designs, producing work of exceptional clarity and refinement.Throughout his career he illustrated and designed more than 200 books and publications, founded the Woodchuck Press, and became a founding member of the Canadian Group of Painters. His artwork frequently depicts Canada's flora, fauna, and rural landscapes with remarkable sensitivity and economy of line. His works are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and numerous other public institutions.Note: The inscription on this drawing appears to read "Wolverine Looking for Off Thy", followed by a personal dedication and the date 25/10/78. Because the handwriting is faint, the exact wording of the dedication cannot be confirmed without examining the work in person.

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