The Group of The Group of SevenSeven

Tom ThomsonTom Thomson In the 1910s, Tom Thomson, an artist In the 1910s, Tom Thomson, an artist

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

Algonquin LakeAlgonquin Lakeby Tom Thomson (1915)by Tom Thomson (1915)

April in Algonquin Park April in Algonquin Park (1917)(1917)

Canoe Lake(1914)Canoe Lake(1914)

Northern Lights (1915)Northern Lights (1915)

Woods in Winter (1917)Woods in Winter (1917)

The Group of SevenThe Group of Seven In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y. In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y.

Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston officially formed F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston officially formed this now famous group. These were painters this now famous group. These were painters bitten by the Canadian north who, for the first bitten by the Canadian north who, for the first time, took on the task of painting the great time, took on the task of painting the great power, scenery and spirit of their land. power, scenery and spirit of their land.

The Group of SevenThe Group of Seven

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

Little Haven, Nouvelle-Little Haven, Nouvelle-Écosse by Arthur LismerÉcosse by Arthur Lismer

""The great The great purpose of purpose of landscape art is landscape art is to make us at to make us at home in our own home in our own country.country." " -- Algomaxim -- Algomaxim

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

Matin, lac Supérieur by Matin, lac Supérieur by Lawren HarrisLawren Harris

Kispayaks Village by A.Y. Kispayaks Village by A.Y. Jackson Jackson

October Gold by Franklin October Gold by Franklin CarmichaelCarmichael

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

Untitled by Frank H. Untitled by Frank H. JohnstonJohnston

October on the North Shore October on the North Shore by Arthur Lismerby Arthur Lismer

Storm Clouds by J.E.H. Storm Clouds by J.E.H. MacDonald MacDonald

Autumn by Franklin Autumn by Franklin CarmichaelCarmichael

The Group of SevenThe Group of Seven

"It is necessary that as Canadians "It is necessary that as Canadians we should believe we are capable of we should believe we are capable of producing great art as we believe we producing great art as we believe we are capable of doing great deeds.“are capable of doing great deeds.“

Arthur LismerArthur Lismer

The Group of Seven The Group of Seven disbandsdisbands

The Group of Seven held their eighth and The Group of Seven held their eighth and final exhibition in Toronto in December 1931. final exhibition in Toronto in December 1931.

Included in the show were twenty-four Included in the show were twenty-four invited contributors, as well as the Group of invited contributors, as well as the Group of Seven members, which gives some idea of Seven members, which gives some idea of how diverse they had become. how diverse they had become.

After the preview, an announcement was After the preview, an announcement was made that the Group of Seven ceased to exist, made that the Group of Seven ceased to exist, as such. They explained that a "bigger as such. They explained that a "bigger association was to take place, one to include association was to take place, one to include a far reaching representation of all creative a far reaching representation of all creative Canadian artists." They called themselves the Canadian artists." They called themselves the Canadian Group of Painters.Canadian Group of Painters.

Legacy of the Group of Legacy of the Group of SevenSeven

The Group of Seven had achieved The Group of Seven had achieved acclaim internationally.acclaim internationally.

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

Legacy of the Group of Legacy of the Group of SevenSeven

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