“One of my early paintings of children. I love to paint portraits as as the men and women were always too busy to pose for me I was only too pleased to use children as models and to discover how much they seemed to enjoy sitting for me” - Jori Smith

This Portrait of a Young Boy beautifully exemplifies one of Jori Smith’s most compelling subjects: the child portrait. Painted during the formative decades of the 1930s and 1940s, when Smith was working extensively in Charlevoix, the work reflects the quiet modernity that defines her mature style.

The young sitter is presented without distraction, isolated against a dark, richly worked background that intensifies the luminosity of the face. His large, searching eyes immediately draw the viewer in, conveying a depth and gravity far beyond his years. Smith’s brushwork is confident and expressive, with warm reds and earthy tones set against the soft blue of the overalls, creating a striking chromatic harmony.

What distinguishes this portrait is its restrained power. There is no anecdotal detail, no sentimental embellishment — only a focused, dignified presence. Through a remarkable economy of means, Smith elevates the subject, granting him a quiet monumentality and emotional resonance.

Both tender and psychologically penetrating, this work captures the essence of Smith’s approach to childhood: introspective, humane, and profoundly modern. It stands as a particularly beautiful and affecting example of her celebrated portraits of children.