Phyllis Webb: Canadian Poet
Acrylic on Canvas, 1990
76 x 101.5 cm

The cover reproduces a painting of Webb by Sonja A. Skarstedt. I ask the reader, viewer: does it not remind you a bit of the portraits that line the boardrooms and halls of universities—of presidents, deans and professors emeritus, hands clasped, the informed gaze fixed steadily upon us—Webb’s ponchos and scarves having become a doctoral gown, academic paraphernalia? Except that there is no cap to the gown, except that the colours are sky-blue and yellow, and orange and grass green, with a touch of mauve—except that the lady wears shades, blue glasses, through which nonetheless her eyes emerge clearly to fix us with their own steady gaze.

D.G. Jones
reviewing A Festschrift for Phyllis Webb, 
Matrix Number 37, Summer 1992