Death of a Young Son by Drowning

About Death of a Young Son by Drowning

Contemporary Canadian Artist Charles Pachter called illustrating ‘The Journals of Susanna Moodie,’ “his baby.” In this famous book by Canada’s Margaret Atwood, the poet takes on the persona of a 19th century pioneer. Each poem in the collection is illustrated by Pachter, a long-time friend of Atwood whom he refers to as “his muse and mentor.” ‘Death of a Young Son By Drowning’ chronicles the grief of a mother—Susanna Moodie, who lost her son in a tragic drowning accident. Pachter shows the son’s face, the eyes staring out at the viewer just before the boy sinks into the churning blue waters. The simplicity of the image complements the poem and doesn’t distract from the power of Atwood’s words. A painter, printmaker, sculptor, designer and author, Pachter is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Sorbonne-Paris.He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and twice a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee medal. He has honorary Doctorate degrees from the Ontario College of Art & Design, the University of Toronto and Brock University. His paintings are in public and private collections around the world.