Canada’s national culture has been shaped by prose, poetry and painting in varying degrees since the country’s early days. The artistic movement in Canada has transitioned significantly throughout the course of the nation’s development, from an agricultural society to the urbanized one known today. Early periods view art much differently than those who followed, like the Group of Seven. A notably nationalist art movement suggests that their art represented a dramatic departure from earlier styles of painting in Canada. This paper will argue that the Group of Seven did in fact play a major role in its transition, in addition to ‘Great White Hope’, the myth of the North, which catered to the idealistic notion of the North’s influence in art. The work of Homer Watson, After the Rain, and Arthur Lismer’s, A September Gale, will also be used to help note the changing style and dynamic of Canadian art.
Artistic ideals in Canada are often difficult to combine into one concise understanding given their changing nature. The colonial era as well as the late nineteenth century was significantly shaped by Pastoralism, a style that often depicted paintings of the countryside (Davis 36). The Homer Watson painting, After the Rain in 1883 is a pastoral style that depicts “nature reach[ing] its highest stage of picturesque beauty [that only occurs] when forests [have] been cleared, meadows or fields created or cultivated and farms established” (36). After the Rain shows a farmer’s field, where the land has been cleared of trees following what looks to be a major storm (38). Watson represents early Canada by placing emphasis on a secure, eerily comfortable, agrarian based society in a photographic-like piece of work. Homer Watson believed in his w...
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...epresentation of key national symbols, ” (Davis 41) it was not until later that further expansion of the artistic disciple notably covered wider expanses of Canadian territory in terms of social and cultural supports.
The growth of art in Canada has played a pivotal role in the development of Canadian culture. An individuals ability to connect themselves to their country has increasely been linked to artistic works and their representation of national ideals. Earlier pieces such as After the Rain by Homer Watson represent an artistic sense of agrarian society, which later shifted to an increasely modern perspective through the work of the Group of Seven. Group member Arthur Lismer’s, A September Gale, reflects represents a dramatic departure away from earlier styles of panting and its representative ideals feed into a similar vision the North portrays for Canada.
The Group of Seven is arguably made up of Canada’s most famous artists. Best known for their landscape paintings, there are few portraits that have become national Canadian icons, including Frederick Varley’s Vera (1930).
Frederick Varley and all the other members of the Group of Seven were working towards creating a new Canadian Style of painting in a time where Canada was desperate to show how independent and different from Britain they were. Varley’s Stormy Weather Georgian Bay is a perfect example of art mirroring society. With this piece we can see the use of new, vibrant colours and loose flowing brush strokes to symbolize the new role that Canada was pushing to play as an independent nation on the world
A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people. Many countries have been influenced by various things such as immigration, media, news, as well as trends and fads from both in and out of the country. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, there was mainly news and word of mouth. Many had argued that Canada should establish its own culture to have an identity separate, later growing into a concern of the government. Most would think that the cultural influence was negative as the influences of other countries would take away from the country’s own culture and identity, but it was not the case. The influence of American culture in the 1950s and 1960s in Canada was positive. American music, Hippie culture, and the impact the American
Canada experienced the revolution of changing politics and new ideologies, it was a necessary wave
Today Canada and the United States are major trading partners, allies, and two neighboring countries with a long history of cooperation with each other. But is it possible for Canada to protect its independence and culture living next door to the country so powerful and rich as the United States. Since the Canadian confederation, Canada started developing relations with the U.S. As the years passed by, Canada began to relay on the United States in the national defense. Many Canadians think that the military, political and economical dependence would not make a difference to their daily life. But today more then even Canadian culture is affected by the American influence. Media, American artists, economic dependence, American propaganda and political pressure from the United States is making Canada too Americanized. All of these factors reflect on the social life of ordinary Canadians threatening the heritage and the traditions that define Canada as independent country.
Lawson, Mary. The Other Side of the Bridge. Vintage Canada ed. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2007. Print.
Throughout the 20th century, the Irish-Canadian community has been foundational to the evolution of Canada's national identity, whether it was with the leadership of Baie-Comeau's Brian Mulroney, whose historical legacy includes NAFTA or the Shamrock summit, or the ineradicable impact of the music groups from Eastern Canada on the country's cultural sphere. Despite having such a mark upon the country's growth, the cohabitation between Irish and Canadian populations was also one of struggle. This paper will explore some of the pivotal historical events, between the Irish and Canadian populations, in the 19th century.
Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. Macdonald, and F.H. Varley (Leigh). The Group of Seven was considered an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists. All befriend each other in Toronto between 1911 and 1913, except Harris, who was independently wealthy. They made their living as commercial artists which create art for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. Commercial art includes designing books, signs, posters, and advertisements. Tom Thomson was also included in this circle of friends but never became a member of the Group of Seven since he died in 1917. He influenced the Group in painting the rugged northern Ontario landscape. The Group of Seven were the most important Canadian artists of the beginning of the twentieth century as well as Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, and David Milne. They have influenced many artists such as the abstract painter, Jack Brush, and figurative painter, Peter Doig. The Group of Seven’s paintings is an important part to Canada’s identity and their paintings show that Canada is known for having snowy mountains, boreal forests and endless lakes (Varley). Some paintings by the members of the Group of Seven include: “Mirror Lake” painted in 1929 by Franklin Carmichael, and “Northland Hilltop” painted in 1931 by J.E.H. Macdonald
Zaslow, Morris. The Defended Border, Upper Canada and the War of 1812. Toronto: MacMillian of Canada, 1983
In Thomas King’s “Totem”, he uses all kinds of objects to satirize that the Canadian Government is not treating First Nations fairly and all they do is to push them aside. The story starts with a paradox. The author combines “Prairie Museum” with “Seaviews” show- terms that are totally unrelated- in order to satirize the staffs which symbol the Canadian government not knowing the history. In addition, the totem poles make different sounds which refer to the different languages First Nations speak and which also are causes of misunderstandings between the First Nations and the Canadian government. However, the government never tries to solve the misunderstandings by negotiating with the First Nations just like the staffs never try to understand the sounds that the totem poles make.
Gardner, Helen, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. N.p., 2014. Print.
Thompson, John Herd, and Mark Paul Richard. "Canadian History in North American Context." In Canadian studies in the new millennium. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008. 37-64.
Despite illustrating the same culture, “British Columbia Memorial” by Darcy Large and "The Spirit of Place" painting by Taylor Tabry-Dorzek prove to have various differences if we consider criteria of inherent meaning, significant beauty and fulfilled intent. Both have an inherent meaning. The historical painting by Large wishes to depict the darker side of the indigenous history and culture. For this reason, the artist uses her work to evoke emotions of heartbreak and remorse in the viewer. Contrastly, “The Spirit of Place” painting by Tabry-Dorzek wishes to depict the natural beauty and wonders of the Aboriginal culture. Both display significant beauty. The beauty of Large’s work consists of a darker, adjacent colour scheme. On the other
Examining the formal qualities of Homer Watson’s painting Horse and Rider In A Landscape was quite interesting. I chose to analyze this piece as apposed to the others because it was the piece I liked the least, therefore making me analyze it more closely and discover other aspects of the work, besides aesthetics.
The imposition of a dam and a human-made lake and reservoir on a Blackfoot reserve in the small town of Blossom, Alberta, is a potent symbol in Green Grass, Running Water for non-Native oppression of Native Canadians’ land rights, traditions and cultural codes. Intrusion of western culture into the lives of natives is shown vividly in many instances of the novel. Dr. Hovaugh observes the changes happening to the garden in front of hospital and laments over the loss of elm trees. Thomas King describes the cutting down of elm trees li...