Feb 18, 2026

A Closer Look: Krieghoff Edition

Discover the storytelling in these winter scenes by Cornelius Kreighoff at the AGO

Cornelius Krieghoff. Breaking Up of a Country Ball in Canada, Early Morning, 1857. Oil on canvas, Overall: 60.9 x 91.3 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo © AGO.

Cornelius Krieghoff (1815–1872) was known for his depictions of the lives of First Nations and Métis people, and of French and English settlers during the nineteenth century. A prolific artist of landscapes and genre paintings, he’s estimated to have created up to 1,800 prints and paintings in his 42 years of artmaking. Krieghoff’s connection to Canada is perhaps unexpected, having been born in Amsterdam, trained in Düsseldorf, serving in the U.S. military, and passing away in Chicago. Yet Krieghoff lived in Montreal from 1846 to 1853, and in Quebec City from 1853 to 1864, and from 1870 to 1872. During these years, he made a name for himself as one of the most recognizable artists of his era in Canada.

What sets Krieghoff apart from his contemporaries is the wry details in his paintings. He sometimes even included himself in his works. From brawls to merrymaking and sleigh rides, he had an instinct for amplifying the drama of daily life and nature, often creating several variations of the same scene.

The AGO has over 150 Krieghoff artworks in its Collection, and many are on display in the galleries housing the Thomson Collection of Canadian Art on Level 2. It’s a lot to see, but if you take the time to look closely at these works, you’ll be rewarded by spotting some cheekier elements of his narrative scenes. Below, we zoom in on two winter scenes.

Breaking Up of a Country Ball in Canada, Early Morning (1860), in gallery 205, has a lot going on that invites close looking: canoodling couples, a sled accident, and bleary-eyed revellers.

Look at the gentleman thumbing his nose in the centre of the painting.

Cornelius Krieghoff. Breaking Up of a Country Ball in Canada, Early Morning, 1857 (detail). Oil on canvas, Overall: 60.9 x 91.3 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo © AGO.

On the right side of the painting, you’ll spot a man bunking in a barn to get some peace and quiet.

Another Krieghoff favourite is Off the Road – The Upset Sleigh (1856), on view in gallery 203. Upset Sleigh is the story of a winter blunder – a rogue pig dashed out from a barn, spooked a horse and caused a snowy crash. Perhaps the painting was Krieghoff’s subtle suggestion to merrymakers in the 1800s to slow down on country roads.

Cornelius Krieghoff. Off the Road - The Upset Sleigh, 1856. oil on canvas, Overall: 33.8 x 54.5 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo © AGO. 2009/410

If you only focus on the action in the middle of the painting, you’ll miss a couple of details, like the incriminating hoof prints.

Cornelius Krieghoff. Off the Road - The Upset Sleigh, 1856 (detail). oil on canvas, Overall: 33.8 x 54.5 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo © AGO. 2009/410

And in the corner: a man shouting from the open barn door.

Cornelius Krieghoff. Off the Road - The Upset Sleigh, 1856 (detail). oil on canvas, Overall: 33.8 x 54.5 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo © AGO. 2009/410

Off the Road – The Upset Sleigh (1856) is on view in gallery 203 and Breaking Up of a Country Ball in Canada, Early Morning (1860) in gallery 205 on Level 2 of the AGO. Several artworks by Kreighoff are on view in gallery 203.