Symbolist Modernist Oil Painting Spring 1947 By William Mccance

Symbolist Modernist Oil Painting – “Spring 1947” by William McCance (Scottish, 1894–1970), Signed
A rare and contemplative mid-20th century oil painting by William McCance, an esteemed figure in Scottish Modernism. Titled “Spring 1947” and signed lower right, this intimate domestic scene reflects both personal tenderness and philosophical depth.
Painted in richly textured oil on canvas, the work depicts a mother cat with her kittens, bathed in warm spring light at a windowsill. Behind them lies a subtle but striking animal skull, anchoring the scene with quiet symbolism—a meditation on life, fragility, and postwar survival.

Subject & Symbolism
Executed in 1947, just after the Second World War, McCance uses the domestic motif of feline nurture to explore themes of rebirth, tenderness, and the delicate tension between life and death. The mother cat curls protectively around her kittens, while soft natural light pours through draped velvet curtains, casting calm across the composition.
This moment of stillness and care is quietly disrupted by the skull’s presence—a memento mori that situates the painting within a deeper cultural and spiritual context.

Medium & Technique
McCance’s oil-on-canvas technique is layered and expressive. Areas of impasto build tactile, sculptural textures across the canvas. His colour palette is rooted in earthy warmth and seasonal freshness:
Siennas and umbers for the cats’ forms
Moss greens and charcoal greys in the curtains
Lavender, sky blue, and winter whites beyond the window
The brushwork shifts between controlled structure and expressive gesture, echoing both post-Impressionist and Cubist influences. The mother cat is abstracted and weighty, while the kittens are lively and suggestive. The skull—crisp, pale, and stark—adds a touch of spectral modernism.
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Composition & Design Relevance
The painting’s overall structure is a study in balance and rhythm. It is anchored by a central diagonal—formed by the mother's body—drawing the viewer across the narrative arc of nurture, memory, and seasonal change.
This is not only a work of art but also a conversation piece for a curated interior—blending rustic warmth with Modernist clarity, and offering emotional resonance for both collectors and decorators.

Signed & Exhibited
Signed lower right: “W. McC”
Exhibited at:
Reading Museum and Art Gallery (1960)
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (1990)
Lord Hill Museum (2025)
Provenance: From the Estate of the Artist, with auction label verso

Dimensions
Framed: 60 cm wide x 50.5 cm high x 3.5 cm deep

Condition
In good decorative condition for its age. Minor paint losses, craquelure, and foxing consistent with time and material. Later contemporary wood frame with light scuffs—professionally presented and structurally sound.

Summary
A rare, original Modernist work by William McCance
Postwar symbolism through a domestic lens
Exhibited in major Scottish and UK galleries
Ideal for collectors of Modern British Art, Scottish painters, or symbolist works
A striking addition to interiors with emotional and intellectual depth
Available exclusively through Decorative Collective
For international clients, professional packing and insured shipping can be arranged.
Trade enquiries and styling consultations welcome.