In addition to depictions of animals, as with the preceding lot, Morrisseau frequently painted loving family subjects. To our eyes, Bear Child is among his most interesting variations on this aspect of his work. Deceptively simple in appearance, Bear Child is a far more impressive work than is casually apparent. In keeping with the strong design style Morrisseau developed during his career, this work illustrates the artist’s uniquely distilled forms to represent this young sitter in a hymn of pure colours and fine line work. The pudgy-cheeked bear child looks curiously at the spindly legged insects that surround him, his left paw swatting at the buzzing bees. Morrisseau’s treatment of the picture is so individual and so tender, we suggest that it may be a loving “portrait” of one of his grandchildren.