The Group Of Seven And Emily

The last time I took you around the National Gallery, I made mention of the Group of Seven, the Canadian artists who exhibited together in the early twentieth century, forming after the death of their friend Tom Thomson in 1917. Thomson and the Group have numerous works displayed together, both small field canvases and large works.

This is Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay, by F.H. Varley, painted in 1921.

These are some of the field canvases from the members of the Group. They would take these small wooden surfaces out into the wild, painting quick sketches of scenes that they would bring back to the studios for the full work.

Arthur Lismer painted this in 1914. It is entitled Road Through The Bush.

These are two paintings by Tom Thomson. The top painting is The Silent Lake, done in 1913. The lower painting is Moonlight, painted at some point in 1913-14.

Spring Ice dates to 1916, and is another work by Thomson. 

And this one is another Thomson, one of his most famous paintings, The Jack Pine. It was painted at some point in 1916-17, and Thomson depicted a lake scene in eastern Algonquin Park, a place he spent much time in. Today there is an interpretive hiking trail to that very spot.

This is another Arthur Lismer oil painting, from 1921, titled, September Gale, Georgian Bay.

And this painting is by Lawren Harris, dated to 1924. It is titled Afternoon Sun, North Shore, Lake Superior. 

This last painting is by a contemporary of the Group, and a great artist in her own right. Emily Carr painted this in 1928, an oil painting entitled Heina. It reflects her personal interest in First Nations culture, particularly in British Columbia.