The Group of Seven (and Tom Thomson too!) Fred Varley Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay, c. 1920

Fred Varley Fred Varley Lawren Harris Lawren Harris Frank Carmichael Frank Carmichael A.Y. Jackson A.Y. Jackson F. Johnston F. Johnston Arthur Lismer Arthur Lismer J.E.H. MacDonald J.E.H. MacDonald They began their association in 1913, and had their first show as a formal group in Tom Thomson was not an official member of the group as he drowned in 1917 before their first exhibit. Johnston left after the first show, and A.J. Casson, Lionel Fitzgerald and Edwin Holgate later joined the group. The group disbanded in 1933 and many members went on to form The Canadian Group of Painters. The original members of the Group of Seven were:

Their style: Simplified forms Simplified forms Bold brushstrokes Bold brushstrokes Bold, emotive colour Bold, emotive colour Uniquely Canadian subject matter Uniquely Canadian subject matter Harris, Beaver Swamp in Algoma, 1920

Carmichael, La Cloche #2 Oil on panel, however Carmichael was known for his watercolour paintings Oil on panel, however Carmichael was known for his watercolour paintings Feeling of deep space Feeling of deep space

Jackson, The Red Maple, 1914 Based on a sketch painted outdoors in Algonquin Park Based on a sketch painted outdoors in Algonquin Park Symbolic of the group’s nationalist sentiments – the young tree standing strong against the rapids Symbolic of the group’s nationalist sentiments – the young tree standing strong against the rapids

Johnston, Untitled Monochro- matic colour scheme – tints and shades of blue with white Monochro- matic colour scheme – tints and shades of blue with white

The artists would pack up their paints and wooden panels, and travel into the wilderness to paint on site, out of doors. In the winter back at their studio in Toronto, they would choose the best of these and develop them into more elaborate paintings. Lismer, Study, September Gale, 1920 Lismer, September Gale, 1921 From study to studio…

The Group of Seven

Thomson, The West Wind, 1917 Thomson and five of the Group of Seven members worked as graphic artists Shows influence of the Art Nouveau style of design (simple, organic shapes, based on plant forms, bold, flat colours)

Thomson, The Jack Pine, 1917 Grand Lake in Algonquin Park Grand Lake in Algonquin Park Representative of the ‘Canadian spirit’, standing strong against the elements Representative of the ‘Canadian spirit’, standing strong against the elements Red underpainting allowed to show through, which adds to the vibrancy of the colours Red underpainting allowed to show through, which adds to the vibrancy of the colours

Tom Thomson In the 1910s, Tom Thomson, an artist and avid outdoorsman, revolutionized the way we view the Canadian landscape. He had a brief career, a mere five years because he died in 1917, but he introduced a group of painters from Toronto to Algonquin Park. Like him, they were captivated by that unique wilderness. Thomson became an inspiration to those artists, who later formed the Group of Seven. In the 1910s, Tom Thomson, an artist and avid outdoorsman, revolutionized the way we view the Canadian landscape. He had a brief career, a mere five years because he died in 1917, but he introduced a group of painters from Toronto to Algonquin Park. Like him, they were captivated by that unique wilderness. Thomson became an inspiration to those artists, who later formed the Group of Seven.

Algonquin Lake by Tom Thomson (1915)

April in Algonquin Park (1917)

Canoe Lake(1914)

Northern Lights (1915)

Woods in Winter (1917)

The Group of Seven In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston officially formed this now famous group. These were painters bitten by the Canadian north who, for the first time, took on the task of painting the great power, scenery and spirit of their land. In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston officially formed this now famous group. These were painters bitten by the Canadian north who, for the first time, took on the task of painting the great power, scenery and spirit of their land.

The Group of Seven As an "outpost" of culture, Canadians followed the rules of the European art world. Canadian art authorities did not believe that our rough landscape was fit subject matter for art. "It's bad enough to live in this country," an old lady once told A.Y. Jackson, "without having pictures of it in your home." This, and the attitude that pine trees were unpaintable, slowly began to change. As an "outpost" of culture, Canadians followed the rules of the European art world. Canadian art authorities did not believe that our rough landscape was fit subject matter for art. "It's bad enough to live in this country," an old lady once told A.Y. Jackson, "without having pictures of it in your home." This, and the attitude that pine trees were unpaintable, slowly began to change.

Little Haven, Nouvelle-Écosse by Arthur Lismer "The great purpose of landscape art is to make us at home in our own country." -- Algomaxim "The great purpose of landscape art is to make us at home in our own country." -- Algomaxim

September Gale –Arthur Lismer

October on the North Shore by Arthur Lismer

Matin, lac Supérieur by Lawren Harris

North Shore Lake Superior Lawren Harris

Maligne Lake- Lawren Harris

Lawren Harris Toronto House

Kispayaks Village by A.Y. Jackson

October Gold by Franklin Carmichael

Autumn by Franklin Carmichael

Weather, Lynn Valley, B.C. by Frederick Varley

Untitled by Frank H. Johnston

Storm Clouds by J.E.H. MacDonald

Oaks, October Morning by J.E.H. MacDonald

MacDonald, The Solemn Land, 1921 “Realistic pictures then are no more art than stock reports or railroad timetables are poetry.” “Realistic pictures then are no more art than stock reports or railroad timetables are poetry.”

The Group of Seven "It is necessary that as Canadians we should believe we are capable of producing great art as we believe we are capable of doing great deeds.“ "It is necessary that as Canadians we should believe we are capable of producing great art as we believe we are capable of doing great deeds.“  Arthur Lismer

The Group of Seven disbands The Group of Seven held their eighth and final exhibition in Toronto in December The Group of Seven held their eighth and final exhibition in Toronto in December Included in the show were twenty-four invited contributors, as well as the Group of Seven members, which gives some idea of how diverse they had become. Included in the show were twenty-four invited contributors, as well as the Group of Seven members, which gives some idea of how diverse they had become. After the preview, an announcement was made that the Group of Seven ceased to exist, as such. They explained that a "bigger association was to take place, one to include a far reaching representation of all creative Canadian artists." They called themselves the Canadian Group of Painters. After the preview, an announcement was made that the Group of Seven ceased to exist, as such. They explained that a "bigger association was to take place, one to include a far reaching representation of all creative Canadian artists." They called themselves the Canadian Group of Painters.

Casson, White Pine, 1954 Painted after the Group of Seven disbanded, and Casson co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters in 1933 Painted after the Group of Seven disbanded, and Casson co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters in 1933 Analogous colour scheme gives a feeling of harmony to the painting Analogous colour scheme gives a feeling of harmony to the painting

Fitzgerald Fitzgerald was the last to join the group, and never exhibited with them as a member Fitzgerald was the last to join the group, and never exhibited with them as a member His style was more polished and meticulous than the others His style was more polished and meticulous than the others

Holgate, Melting Snow, 1948 Holgate joined the group in 1930 Holgate joined the group in 1930 He’s best known for his series of nudes in landscapes He’s best known for his series of nudes in landscapes

Legacy of the Group of Seven The Group of Seven had achieved acclaim internationally. The Group of Seven had achieved acclaim internationally. They became increasingly aware of their role as spokesmen for art in Canada, and attempted to overcome public indifference and convince Canadians of the need for a national art. They fought against the idea that there could never be a Canadian art tradition and helped establish a climate of tolerance for new ideas. They became increasingly aware of their role as spokesmen for art in Canada, and attempted to overcome public indifference and convince Canadians of the need for a national art. They fought against the idea that there could never be a Canadian art tradition and helped establish a climate of tolerance for new ideas.

Legacy of the Group of Seven By popularizing the concept of an art founded on the Canadian landscape, they gave many Canadians a sense of national identity and enabled them to discover the beauty of their own country. By popularizing the concept of an art founded on the Canadian landscape, they gave many Canadians a sense of national identity and enabled them to discover the beauty of their own country.