Time to share my enthusiasm for some artists that have recently come to my attention.
I am a fan of members of the famous Canadian Group of Seven painters, and they led me to other great Canadian artists. Specifically two, one of which I will show off in this post.
Clarence Gagnon
1881–1942
French Canadian painter & engraver
Brittany Goose Girl
Baie Saint-Paul
c. 1914-1917
Clarence Gagnon was born in rural Quebec and studied art first in Montreal. He later also studied in Paris and returned to Europe many times. He lived most of his life in Baie-Saint-Paul, not far from Quebec City, downriver along the St. Lawrence.
Even though he lived and worked in Europe for long stretches, his subject remained almost exclusively his beloved Charlevoix region of Eastern Quebec.
En Novembre
Gagnon_Le Ruisseau, Baie-Saint-Paul
I just love his work. He had a great color sense and a wonderful looseness in his painting technique. All that, and then I saw his engravings – whoa. They are absolutely stunning and full of mood.
The National Gallery of Canada has a nice biography of him and a bunch of work online.
Gagnon_Jardins du Grand Séminaire, Montréal
Overlooking the Vallée du Gouffre, Charlevoix
Summer Day, Les Andelys, Normandy
Summer Scene, Baie-Saint-Paul
A little analysis of the above painting:
– wide, panoramic format (ratio of 1:3.3)
– cool color scheme of blues overall, with the house being the only overtly warm area
– groups of blue trees form 3 points of "rest," with the eye tending to move between them
– most saturated area of color is foreground center group of trees, also a very high contrast spot from trees to river behind
Next time: Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté
