Tom Thomson:
Man, Myth, Mystery
Title: The West Wind, 1917
Artist: Tom Thomson (Canadian 1877-1917
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Gift of the Canadian Club of Toronto, 1926.
© 2003 Art Gallery of Ontario
Image Courtesy: Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Unknown, unappreciated and having died in mysterious circumstances,
Tom Thomson is arguably Canada's most famous artist. Currently the work
of this artistic genius, who captured the raw power of the Canadian landscape,
is on display for a limited time in a special exhibition at the Art
Gallery of Ontario. The exhibition which was organized by the National
Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario is traversing Canada.
Having been shown in Ottawa, Vancouver and Quebec city, it will have
one final showing after its Toronto stay in Winnipeg starting September
27th, 2003. The exhibition consists of over 150 works, most of which
are by Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson (1877-1917) is a mysterious figure whose art career
spanned a brief five years before his untimely death. Thomson heavily
influenced the famous Canadian artists collectively known as the
Group of Seven.
The Tom Thomson exhibition is divided into five key sections. There
is a chronological look at Thomson's sketches and paintings, the changing
character of his subject matter in Algonquin Park, his links to the
Arts Movement and to the works of his contemporaries, his painting techniques
and the mythology around his life and death.
Man
The Exhibition provides key insight into Tom Thomson, from his formative
years in Owen Sound, Ontario to his work first in Seattle, Washington
and later moving to Toronto and establishing himself as a talented artist.
Yet it is his paintings that tell the tale of his developing talent
and his vision within the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th
century. This is a particular focus of the exhibition and worth an investment
of time from the viewer who wishes to understand more of this important
period in the Canadian art world.
The discussion of Tom Thomson's techniques is showcased
via a display of the actual canvases that he painted in Algonquin
Park. Thomson would bring these canvases to his studio and from
there he would paint the museum pieces. The colors are bold and
powerful and Thomson and his peers vibrantly captured the imagery
of the rugged Canadian North. There is also an in-depth review of
Thomson's biography, discussing his career as a graphic artist, and
even delving into the changing nature of his favored location Algonquin
Park.
Myth
Tom Thomson was not a member of the Group of Seven. It formed after
his death. He was however a major influence on the group and but for
his early death, would undoubtedly have been a founding member of the group.
In 1920, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson,
Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston
officially formed the Group of Seven. These painters did more than
paint the scenery it is said they painted the spirit of the Canadian
north capturing the changing seasons with incredible accuracy and
depth.
The eight artists, including Tom Thomson, painted the rugged Canadian
north as they saw it. They eschewed the delicate styles of the dominant
European art scene of the early 20th Century preferring instead raw
heavily impasto brush work to convey the vibrancy of their subjects.
The men, sans Harris and Jackson, worked together as commercial graphic
artists at the photo engraving company Grip Ltd. where they met Thomson
who in fact worked for J.E.H. MacDonald, who was the head graphic artist. Grip
specialized in design layout for companies such as the Timothy Eaton
Company, a catalogue and department store in Toronto. It was during
their lunches at the Arts and Letters Club than these eight men (including
Harris and Jackson) met.
It was here at this club for artists that they would meet their patrons,
with the exception of the independently wealthy Lawren Harris, who would
help bridge the gap to allow these men to paint full time instead of
merely on their summer vacations.
The Group usually met to arrange art exhibitions. Their final exhibition
as the Group of Seven was held in 1931, the year before J.E.H. MacDonald's
death.
One thing that is known about Thomson's death is that it hit JEH MacDonald
particularly hard. MacDonald was ill for months afterwards and it was
he that went on to form the Group of Seven, possibly in the memory of
his good friend Tom Thomson.
While visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario's Permanent Group of Seven
collections it is worth seeing MacDonald's work The Beaver Dam.
The centerpiece of this incredible work is a red canoe lying against
the dam, a homage, perhaps, to Tom Thomson who died while on a canoe
trip. The Art Gallery singles out The Beaver Dam for a special
treat whereby the viewer may sit and listen to different presentations,
including a fascinating, but short 10 minute exploration of the work.
There is also a presentation by the curator and a discussion about J.E.H.
MacDonald, all from a two-person bench in front of The Beaver Dam.
The work was painted in 1919 following MacDonald's recovery
from his long illness after Thomson's death.
Mystery
Part of the mystique around Tom Thomson comes from the mysterious circumstances
surrounding his early death. Thomson became a tour guide in Algonquin
Park, allowing him to develop his survival skills to a very high level.
He went missing in June 1917 and his body was discovered
a few days later. While his death was attributed to drowning there
has been speculation that his injuries did not match the findings.
It is impossible to say whether or not his death was an accident
or if something more sinister was involved, thus adding to the 'myth'
of Tom Thomson.
Particularly striking are the canvases Thomson painted while in Algonquin
Park. This is especially evident when comparing the original sketches
to the actual works he created in his studio from them.
The exhibition closes at the Art Gallery of Ontario on September 7,
2003 and moves to its final location at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in
the latter part of September 2003.
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