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| "Get in the habit of looking at the sky. It is the source of light and art." |
| -- Algomaxim |
Before 1910, a Canadian art movement, inspired by the Canadian landscape, was not considered possible. The public and artists themselves preferred the softer, mistier and tamer landscapes of the old world. Most Canadian artists studied abroad and continued their work here, usually after the manner of the Barbizon and Dutch schools. They painted scenes of cows and trees in the best
academic tradition with lots of detail and dark brown colouring. Horatio Walker and Homer Watson both painted in this style, often referred to as the cow school. 'In Europe, tradition'- that powerful despot- seemed to mould or curb artistic expression, at least for a time. 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.
"Above Lake Superior" |