The short, wondrous life of Oscar Cahen

The call went out to master freelancer Oscar Cahén, familiar both as illustrator of many fine and whimsical Maclean's covers of the era, and for a growing reputation as a key member of Painters Eleven, then leaders of Canada's emerging school of abstract artists. "We locked up Oscar in a hotel and, in one astonishing painting frenzy, he produced a brilliant series of illustrations," he wrote. Problem solved. Deadline met.