Paul Emile Caron was a master sculptor.  He was the “father” of the Caron family of wood sculptors. He worked from 1945 until the 1960s.  Some experts feel that he was the artistic equal of the Bourgault brothers.   Most of P.E. Caron’s character pieces were painted but not this piece. This is a large sculpture at 18” tall. The aged pine shown here is beautiful and you can see the natural grain of the wood.  Everything about this sculpture is excellent; the proportions and pose; the expressive face; the detailed hands; and the detailing on the boots and clothes, including buttons.  The inclusion of a stump is unusual. Note that the Caron family business was sold in 1976 to commercial interests who now mass-produce carvings.  You can distinguish these from early originals like this piece by the signature. The mass produced ones have _Caron_ stamped in the centre point of the edge of the base while the earlier master originals show Caron’s full signature carved into the piece.