Now Available: John Little —Rue Cartier, Montréal (1964)
Painted in 1964, Rue Cartier, Montréal captures the enduring charm of a working-class neighbourhood in the heart of the city — likely depicting the stretch between Sherbrooke and Ontario Streets. This painting dates from 1964, a time when much of downtown Montreal was being transformed by urban renewal projects.
John Little
Rue Cartier, Montréal
Painted in 1964
24 × 30 in
61 x 76.2 cm
In this large scale but intimate winter scene, John Little turns the viewers attention toward the architecture and atmosphere of everyday life. The steep iron staircases, narrow façades, and snow-covered street embody the rhythm of the city’s older boroughs. Figures, adults and children alike, move along the slushy roads and sidewalks. Shop windows, a depanneur and delivery trucks hint at a sense of life within the neighbourhood.
The loose, expressive brushwork is characteristic of Little’s style during this brief painting period. According to his work logs, available exclusively to the John Little Archive, his output during this time period was extremely limited. The painting is alive with texture and movement. His colour palette of reds, yellows, greys, and greens reflect both his early training as an illustrator and his deep sensitivity to the effects of light and weather.
Rue Cartier, Montréal stands as a testament to Little’s commitment to preserving Montreal’s architectural and social fabric during a pivotal era of change. His work serves as a visual archive of the city’s identity — a tribute to the resilience of its neighbourhoods.
This exceptional painting, a quintessential example of John Little’s early 1960s style, is now available for acquisition.
For more information or to arrange a private viewing, please contact us.
