“Ozias Leduc’s Boy with Bread inspired me to make Boy with Junk because I wanted to represent the mindset of teenagers today through a boy who is fortunate but doesn’t really care about his situation in life. Leduc’s painting conveys a quiet, dreamlike feeling, depicting a boy leaning over and playing a harmonica while staring at his leftover bread. To contrast the sense of calmness displayed by the boy (who is neither rich nor fortunate), I gave my subject an aggressive, fierce look while he stuffs his face with junk, not having much care as he sits on the harmonica. He is intensely staring at the junk foods, which is completely opposite to the overall feeling from the boy in Ozias Leduc’s painting.”

–Haeum Park (Grade 10, Ernest Manning High School, Calgary, Alberta)

Largely self-taught, Ozias Leduc (1864–1955) was one of Quebec’s most important painters. His Boy with Bread is celebrated for its masterful composition, which was conceived over seven years.