Modest in size and subject matter, October Rose is nonetheless bold in both colour and design, and a product of her Russian heritage and artistic roots in Post-Impressionism.

The vivid palette and patterned surface of October Rose would have appealed to Isabel McLaughlin (1903–2002), a fellow member of the Canadian Group of Painters. She bought the canvas from Clark’s “In Aid of Russia” sale at the Picture Loan Society in December 1942. With the proceeds of that exhibition, Clark made a donation of around $500 to the Canadian Aid to Russia Fund.