The Group of Seven was formed with the aim of creating a distinctively Canadian art based on the country’s natural landscape. The original members first came together in 1913, and first exhibited as a group in 1920. During this session, we will explore examples of their work, which continue to hold great sway in relation to both Canadian art history and national identity. We will also consider their influences, the work of some of their forerunners – including Tom Thomson – and contemporaries, and ask whether they achieved their aims.
Course aim
To explore the work of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, artists who came together in the early twentieth century with the express aim of creating a distinctively Canadian school of landscape painting.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- outline the aims of the Group of Seven within their historical context
- comment sensibly on examples of work by Thomson and the Group of Seven
- consider critically the idea of a ‘national landscape’
What else do I need to know?
Nothing is required. Suggestions for further reading will be given in class.
View full course information sheet
Day School: Landscape and Nation - Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven
