Historical information

William Balfour Ker was a Canadian-American artist. He was also a declared socialist, and his political stance was often reflected in his art.

This lithograph is a compelling illustration of the race against time sometimes faced by doctors when trying to get to a patient to assist in birth before the baby is born.

Physical description

A black and white lithograph. At top right, a stork is flying through the air, with a baby bundled in a cloth that it is holding in its beak. To the left, a horse drawn buggy follows rapidly behind, with the driver wielding a whip and urging on a speeding white horse. The artist's signature printed at bottom right corner of image reads 'WM.BALFOUR-KER'. The lithograph has been mounted and framed in wooden frame. The outer edge of the frame is black, and the inner edge is gold. On the back of the object, a small piece of paper bearing the title of the lithograph has been attached at bottom centre. It reads 'A HURRY CALL, THE DOCTOR v THE STORK'. A second tag attached to the back of the work reads 'From FF', suggesting the donor of this object was Frank Forster. An old display label is attached to the bottom left of the back of the work. A wire and two hooks have been attached to the back of the frame for hanging.