Canadian landscape artists. Canadian painting and artists of the Group of Seven. Group of Seven and others

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Canadian art was closely connected with European art. Canadian artists were trained in traditional art and techniques used by ancient masters and modern artists living across the Atlantic Ocean. However, this did not prevent the positive response received by artists who sought to reflect the special character of this vast country and its people.

Cornelius Krieghoff (1815–1872), originally from Germany, achieved perfection in the landscape genre. He made numerous sketches of picturesque places in Quebec, especially snowy landscapes. His style was much reminiscent of the style of Dutch landscape painters. Krieghoff's contemporary, Paul Kane, was born in Ireland in 1810. He traveled through the prairies and Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean with fur traders. Along the way, he drew everything he saw (for example, the last buffalo hunt). His paintings, quite in the spirit of the times, reflect the life of the West, which was on the verge of change. At the end of the 19th century, Quebec artists were influenced French impressionists, whose technique was used to depict rural and urban landscapes of eastern Canada. Maurice Cullen's (1866–934) Montreal landscapes appear to have had a major influence on residents' perceptions of their city. The same can be said about the landscapes of Quebec by James Wilson Morris (1865–1924).

A later generation of artists settled in Toronto. They created an art school that not only reflected the Canadian landscape, but also emphasized the identity of this country. These artists became known as "Group of Seven". The roots of this artistic association go back to 1911, when the painting “On the Edge of the Maple Forest” by Montreal artist A. I. Jackson was shown in Toronto. Bright color and the special texture of his paintings amazed local artists. On their advice, Jackson moved to Toronto. Here he rented a studio together with other artists who were fans of his talent. Jackson became friends with by self-taught artist Tom Thomson. Thomson grew up in the village, knew how to fish, rowed a canoe and shot a gun. Thomson's rough style later became more refined under the influence of Jackson and other artists who admired his bold technique.

A wealthy artist patron, Dr. James McCallum, provided them with his summer residence in the Georgian Bay area. McCallum, along with the wealthy artist Lawren Harris, who was patronized by the Massey-Harris engineering firm, also provided artists famous building studio, which overlooked Toronto's Rosedale Gorge. Thomson lived secludedly in a small shack next to the studio. There the artist worked on creating his most beautiful paintings from oil sketches that he made in nature. Among these paintings were the most beloved among Canadians - “The West Wind” and “Banks Pine”. Thomson drowned in 1917. His death was a shock to his friends. Nevertheless, in 1920 they founded the Group of Seven. In addition to Jackson and Harris, it included Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael and J. I. H. MacDonald. In their paintings they depicted the wilderness of the Canadian Shield in the same energetic manner that characterized Thomson. Varli excelled in portraiture. Carmichael depicted not only natural landscapes, but also countryside, as well as mining villages. Harris created landscapes of the North in a primitivist style, and later switched to abstract art.

Famous artists Canada – who represents the country on the world art scene?

June 29, 2017 – We decided to dedicate our first issue to famous Canadian artists who brought national art fresh look and new wave inspiration. We will go on a short journey through the canvases and the author's views on the world around us. From legendary landscape painters and fearless battle painters to contemporary art with original contributions to abstract art, these are all renowned artists who have worked in Canada.


Tom Thomson

Tom Thomson is one of the key figures in the world of Canadian art. Especially when it comes to the stunning scenery of Canada's quintessential natural beauty. He served as a true inspiration for those who later created the so-called "Group of Seven", which included the most influential artists of those times. And his paintings “The West Wind” and “Jack Pine” are considered legends of Canadian art.

Thomson was born on August 5, 1877 in Claremont (Ontario) in quite creative family. He was the sixth of ten children. A great influence on him in childhood was the calling of his father and his cousin, who was one of the best biologists and natural scientists of his time. It was through his time with them that Thomson developed an amazing combination of observing nature and capturing the true spirit of mystery inherent in Canadian landscapes. Despite such a creative childhood, Thomson entered the Canadian Business College, and then attended a similar educational institution in Seattle. There he got his first job at a commercial art company doing engravings of various formats. However, an unsuccessful attempt at marriage forced him to move to Toronto, where he decided to become an artist.

Until this moment, all his artistic activity was only amateur in nature. Everything changed when he enrolled in an evening art school, where he began to actively communicate with a well-known company in the art world called Grip Limited. After showing his work to local professionals, Thomson received accolades. During each of his tourist or fishing trips, the artist constantly made sketches, which he then turned into real masterpieces in the studio. This pattern of work became familiar to him, and it was this that allowed him to create his most famous paintings. His view of the incredible beauty of Canadian nature has become truly legendary.

Tom Thomson died in 1917 under mysterious circumstances, which some called murder and blamed Shannon Fraser. However, there is no precise evidence of this, so his death is officially considered an accident.

Jean Paul Riopelle

Jean Paul Riopelle(Jean-Paul Riopelle) is one of the first Canadian artists to receive worldwide recognition. He was also one of those who signed the famous document “Refus Global”, which opposed all the social, artistic and psychological foundations of Quebec at that time, against all painting techniques available at that time.

The son of a construction worker, Riopelle began taking art classes at age 13. The teacher instilled in him the idea of ​​copying nature in his works, and this basis became a real problem for the young artist when he continued his studies at higher education. educational institution. Despite the parents' desire to train their son to be an architect, Riopelle followed his heart. At first, with the new teacher, he had serious conflicts, since he did not recognize the realism of the student’s paintings. Over time, Riopelle discovered new sides of himself and allowed the subconscious to come to the fore while working on his paintings. So he began to paint in the style of automatism, which denied the need for a conscious approach to drawing and considered only works created through subconscious decisions to be true art. After some time, Riopelle began to be compared to the great Jackson Pollock.

In the 1950s, Riopelle developed his now recognizable style, creating the famous painting Blue Night. Having moved to Paris, the artist participated in numerous prestigious exhibitions, created new masterpieces, and then met Joan Mitchell, with whom his relationship lasted for 25 years.

In 1962, Riopelle represented Canada at the Venice Biennale and received a major retrospective at the Musée National d'Art in Paris. Today his work is presented in the National Gallery of Canada, New York, Washington and many other major cities and galleries. In 1989, the artist returned to Canada, where he began to work in a new style, which not everyone was able to understand. However, his painting Hommage à Rosa Luxemburg, painted shortly after the death of Joan Mitchell, once again brought him to the top of recognition. Riopelle died on March 12, 2002, leaving behind many followers and worldwide fame - his paintings are still successfully sold at a price of at least one million dollars.

Alexander Colville

Alex Colville started his creative career as a battle painter, but later changed the main direction of his work, at the same time experimenting with technology, as well as the materials used.

Colville was born on August 24, 1920 in Toronto, and 9 years later the family moved to Amherst (Nova Scotia). After completing his studies at Mount Allison, 24-year-old Alex was sent to Europe, where he honed his skills as a war artist. A year later he returned to Canada and began painting based on his war sketches and watercolors. At a certain point, Colville decided to devote his life entirely to art, ending his military career. From 1952 to 1955, the Hewitt Gallery in New York became the first institution to present the author with his early commercial exhibitions. Meanwhile, Alex received the most serious support in Canada from the National Gallery of Canada, which in the 50s bought as many as seven paintings from him.

The famous painting "Nude and Dummy" represents a turning point in the artist's career, as with its appearance Alex moves away from war reportage in his work and focuses on personal themes. His creations are always closely connected with his surroundings: his family, animals, nature nearby. At the same time, all of them are not a simple reflection of reality, but rather represent the artist’s special view, combining the beautiful and joyful with the disturbing and dangerous in his paintings. Techniques and materials also change: from oil to resin or acrylic. During this period, Colville works carefully and on only one painting at a time. Its refined geometry and incredible sense of proportions set a special tone. As a result, Alex creates only about three or four paintings per year.

Colville became the first Canadian author to have his work presented in Japan. He also organized exhibitions in Germany and Canada. In addition, he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. During his life, he received many awards for his creative achievements. Alex Colville died in 2013 - by that time he had been the rector of the prestigious Acadia University for ten years.


John Hartman

Another famous Canadian artist with a unique style is John Hartman. A native of Midland, Ontario, born in 1950, he is known for his incredible landscapes that not only show the world around us, but also tell real stories. It is this distinctive feature of Hartman's work that has brought him the recognition he has today.

Physical geography and portraits became the main elements of his work, but the highlight of Hartman's work is his original arrangement of objects, as well as their juxtaposition. In all his paintings one could always trace special atmosphere Ontario, because this is where he spent most of his life. Hartman's drawings, watercolors and oil works reflect his long-time dream of creating a work of art about a specific place, a geographic location, that should carry a whole story or memory.

Hartman's childhood was spent in a combination of early education in the Midlands and summer holidays in picturesque Georgian Bay, which had a huge influence on his future work. Although young artist attended drawing courses from George Wallace; he received his formal education in economics. Wallace was not a fan of landscapes, which somewhat complicated Hartman’s studies, but the teacher still influenced his development. David Blackwood, who also combined landscapes with storytelling on canvas, made an invaluable contribution to the development of Hartman's skills and his search for his own atmosphere.

Having completed his education, John did not work in his profession, but devoted himself to art. If at first he was only experimenting in search of own voice, then over time he managed to develop a special, recognizable style. Some saw his move to bird's-eye views as a desire to free himself from the structure of traditional landscape painting. The author himself claims that this change reflects his memories of flying in his dreams and his long-standing love for the beauty of maps. Hartman has many exhibitions in prestigious galleries and worldwide recognition. The author is still creating today.

Melanie Authier

Contemporary art in Canada is also extremely diverse. A striking example of this was Melanie Authier, born in Montreal in 1980. Today she lives and works in Ottawa, and her paintings are in the collections of many prestigious institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada, TD Bank, BMO and others.

Melanie is known for her colorful, layered and complex paintings. Her paintings pay special attention to original shapes and lines that create deep visual space. All this elegantly and truly uniquely presents the viewer with a seemingly non-existent and even impossible environment.

Autier has studied at Concordia and Guelph universities. Her breakthrough was an honorable mention in the RBC Canadian Artist Competition in 2007. This was followed by national exhibitions at various institutions: Ontario College of Art and Design, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Carleton University Gallery, etc. Melanie's work has also been included in prestigious lists of national publications and galleries.

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One example modern painting, undoubtedly, are the works of Canadian artist Jonathan Earl Bowser. The artist was born in 1962. In Canada. The talent for painting manifested itself in early childhood. So, his first sketches appeared at the age of 8. Earl Bowser is a 1984 graduate of the Alberta College of Art in Calgary. After five years in commercial illustration, which helped him acquire technical skills in drawing and painting, he began to work independently, bringing a new vision to modern art. At the moment, Bowser works in an original manner, which he himself called Mythical Naturalism. His paintings are whimsical landscapes intertwined with images of amazingly beautiful female angels. He often presents his girls in the flesh - naive, passionate, tender, and sometimes vicious, they simply attract the eyes of the audience

“The artist’s task is to try to see the world as it is, and not as it seems to people who rely on their unreliable feelings. The artist must cling to the mysterious poetry of which the world is made, always hoping to find a rare and fleeting glimpse of the Truth behind the veil of illusion that influences our thoughts and perception of the world. This unknown mythical-poetic foundation of the world consists of two fundamental aspects: the first - tangible, changing the dynamic processes of the cosmos - masculinity; the other is intangible, carefully beckoning inside into eternal peace, which in its infinite perfection never changes - the feminine principle. It is the second aspect that I glorify in my work - the Mystery of the Cosmos and the Mystery of Woman.”

And in fact, Bowser’s works are written in a very peculiar manner of the so-called “fantasy”, which makes his works very popular among fans of this genre. Bowser works with traditional materials - canvas and oil, which surprisingly combines with the direction of his work. His paintings can be found in private collections around the world - from Europe to Asia. Even the Governments of China and Taiwan purchased a series of his works for their collections. Among the paintings there is also a series of unique painted plates, located in various famous galleries around the world. His series of 4 paintings "Native American Land" and "Sky Mother" were published and became famous throughout the world.

Bowser's work should be approached from a philosophical point of view, perceiving his vision of the world as a kind of matrix. The images created by the master are a kind of search for lyrical poetry, which envelops our world with a light flair. His paintings are true works of modern art, which are undoubtedly worth paying attention to all lovers of modern painting.

Jonathan Earl Bowser is the author of over 130 original paintings and drawings, which are stored in 13 art galleries world: in America, Europe and some Asian countries. In all the artist’s paintings the main actor The Goddess of Nature always appears.

Canada Artists of Canada - Canada Paintings by Canadian artists

Artists of Canada - Painting of Canada Paintings of Canadian artists (paintings of Canadian artists)

Art of Canada Artists of Canada
Canada Country Canada
Canada is a state that is part of the British Commonwealth, and formally the head of state is the Queen of England. The Queen's official representative in Canada is the Governor General, appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Canada However, Canada is also a parliamentary federal system with a democratic tradition dating back to the English democracy of the 16th century. The legislative branch is represented by Parliament, which includes the Queen (in her absence, the Governor General of Canada), the Senate and the House of Commons.

Canada Modern Canada is a state in North America, which ranks second in the world in terms of area. Canada is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, Denmark (Greenland) in the northeast and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the east. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world.
Canada The state of Canada was founded by the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534, and originates from the French colony on the site modern city Quebec, originally inhabited local peoples. After the period of English colonization from the union of the three British colonies (which were previously territories New France) the Canadian confederation was born. Canada gained independence from the United Kingdom as a result of a peace process that lasted more than a hundred years from 1867 to 1982.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Origin of the name
Canada History of Canada The name Canada comes from the word kanata, meaning “village” or “settlement” in the language of the Laurentian Iroquois who wintered in the village of Stadacona (in the vicinity of modern Quebec), the first Indians whom Jacques Cartier met on Gaspé in the summer of 1534 in their summer camp. In 1535, residents of what is now Quebec City used the word to guide explorer Jacques Cartier to the village of Stadacona. Soon after Cartier's expedition, the Laurentian tribe disappeared without a trace - as modern archaeological excavations have shown, most likely as a result of intertribal wars with the Hurons and southern Iroquois.
Canada History of Canada Cartier later used the word "Canada" to refer not only to this village, but to the entire area under the control of the local chief Donnacona.
Canada History of Canada Since 1545, European books and maps have referred to this region and all banks of the St. Lawrence River as "Canada". Subsequently, this name was transferred to most neighboring territories in North America, governed by the British Empire.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Indigenous Peoples of Canada
Canada History of Canada Archaeological and genetic studies of indigenous peoples have confirmed human presence in the northern Yukon from approximately 26,500 years ago, and in southern Ontario from 9,500 years ago. Archaeological sites Old Crow Flats and Bluefish are two of the earliest archaeological sites of human habitation in Canada. Among the Indians of Canada there are eight unique creation myths and adaptations of these myths. These are myths about the earth, the world parent, emergence, conflict, robbery, the rebirth of a corpse, two creators and their competition, as well as the myth about brothers. Canadian Aboriginal civilizations included permanent or urban settlements, agriculture, public and historic buildings, and complex social hierarchies. Some of these civilizations disappeared long before the first permanent European settlements (late 15th - early 16th centuries), and have been discovered through modern archaeological research.
Canada History of Canada The indigenous population of Canada at the end of 1400 was approximately 500,000 people. Repeated outbreaks of European infectious diseases such as influenza, measles, and smallpox (to which the Indians had no natural immunity), combined with other effects of European contact, resulted in the extinction of 40% to 80% of the indigenous population. Indigenous peoples in Canada include Indians, Eskimos and Métis. Métis culture began in the mid-17th century when Indians and Inuit mixed with European settlers.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada The first steps of Europeans across Canada
Canada History of Canada The first Europeans arrived in the territory modern Canada approximately around the year 1000. They were Norse sailors (often referred to as Vikings) who settled for the winter at Lance Oaks Meadows in Newfoundland. This fact was forgotten by history for a long time.
Canada History of Canada In 1497, Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) surveyed the Atlantic coast of Canada for England.
Canada History of Canada Between 1498 and 1521, mainly Portuguese sailors explored the coast of eastern Canada and established permanent fishing settlements in the region.
Canada History of Canada In 1524, the eastern shores of Canada were explored by the expedition of the Florentine navigator Giovanni Verrazano, who was in the service of the French king.
Canada History of Canada In 1534, Jacques Cartier came ashore to the Gaspé and called this land Canada, which later became one of the provinces of New France. After numerous unsuccessful attempts(New Angoulême on Long Island and Saint-Augustin in Florida) the French established the first colonies approved by the crown: Tadousac (Quebec) in 1600, Port-Royal in 1605 and Quebec in 1608. The English legally formed the city of St. John's in Newfoundland in 1610.
Canada History of Canada However, European explorers brought numerous diseases that quickly spread along trade routes deep into the indigenous population, causing devastation. French settlers, often arriving very sick in less than clean ships, are saved by Indian medicine. For example, to cure scurvy, the Hurons offer decoctions of white cedar bark.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Struggle for control of Canadian territories
Canada History of Canada As the territory of modern Canada was colonized, rivalry between European countries for territory, naval bases, fur and fishing became increasingly fierce, and multiple wars broke out, involving and pitting the French, Dutch, English and allied Indian tribes against each other. The French-Iroquoian wars for control of the fur trade are fought between the Iroquois Confederation, whose allies were first the Dutch and then the English, and the Hurons or even Algonquins, allies of the French. Four French-Iroquois Wars between 1689 and 1763 result in the successive passage of Newfoundland and, later, Acadia into British hands. Various clashes occurred between French settlers and British authorities, such as the complete destruction of Port-Royal and the subsequent deportation of the Acadians (known as the Great Unrest) in 1755.
Canada History of Canada At that time, New France extended from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians. The British want to go to the Ohio Valley, wanting to achieve Fort Duquesne (modern Pittsburgh). In 1756, the Seven Years' War between France and England in America led to the capture of the cities of Quebec in 1759 and Montreal in 1760. After victory in the Seven Years' War, under the Treaty of Paris in 1763, Great Britain finally annexed Acadia, Canada and the eastern part of Louisiana (between the Mississippi and the Appalachians) .

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Upper and Lower Canada
Canada History of Canada By the end of the American Revolution, approximately 50,000 United Empire Loyalists immigrated to Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Since they prove to be completely unwelcome guests in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick separates from this colony in 1784 to receive them. Subsequently, in order to accommodate English-speaking loyalists, the colony of Canada is divided by the Constitution Act of 1791 into two different colonies, Upper Canada and Lower Canada. By giving each the right to elect its own Legislative Assembly.
Canada History of Canada Two decades later, Canada played a significant role during the War of 1812, which divided the United States and the United Kingdom. Its defense costs it important long-term benefits, especially the creation of a sense of unity and nationalism among the population of British North America. Mass immigration to Canada from Great Britain and Ireland begins in 1815. Between one quarter and one third of all Europeans who immigrated to Canada before 1891 died from infectious diseases. A series of agreements subsequently lead to a long period of peace between Canada and the United States.
Canada History of Canada The absence of real authorities capable of establishing laws and levying taxes, the parliament of Lower Canada, social difficulties and the attitude towards French-speakers as a minority lead to the uprising of the patriots. Under the leadership of Louis-Joseph Papineau, the independence of the Republic of Canada is proclaimed. This desire for self-government is brutally suppressed by the British army, which burns and plunders numerous Montérégie villages. Many patriots were hanged, some exiled to Australia, others forced to flee to the United States.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada United Canada
Canada History of Canada After the suppression of the Rebellions of 1837, during which many villages in the Montérégie region were burned, the British colonial government in 1839 gave Lord Durham the task of studying political situation in two Canadas. His main recommendations are the unification of the two colonies (which would reduce Upper Canada's large debt by distributing it throughout the territory) and a greater presence of British culture alongside the French speakers in order to assimilate them. Thus, the Act of Union of 1840 united the two Canadas into one quasi-federal colony, the United Canada, eliminating some of the rights granted to French Canadians during the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Quebec Act of 1774. Electoral governments were created for all provinces of British North America from 1849.
Canada History of Canada After this, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed in 1846 to declare the 49th parallel north as the boundary separating the United States and western British North America. In 1854, the British government signed a free trade agreement with the United States with the United Canada. The reciprocity agreement leads to economic growth in the province of Canada. This agreement ends in 1866.
Canada History of Canada British government in 1849 he founded the colony of Vancouver Island, and in 1858 the colony of British Columbia during the Fraser Valley gold rush. Beginning in the late 1850s, Canadian scientists (such as George Dawson and Joseph Burr Tyrrell) began a series of Western explorations in an attempt to gain control of Rupert's Land as well as the Arctic region.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Canadian Confederation
Canada History of Canada After the Grand Coalition during the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences in 1864, as well as the London Conference in 1866, the Fathers of Confederation carried out the unification of the three colonies - the United Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick - essentially leading to the creation of a new large country. The British North America Act of July 1, 1867 created a dominion called Canada, divided into four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The purpose of such an organization is to unite the populous French-speaking Quebec into a group of small English-speaking provinces with equal powers. At first, the federation did not include the islands of Newfoundland and Prince Edward. Canada gained the right to form its own government without secession British Empire, that is, it actually gained independence.
Canada History of Canada As Canada attempts to take control of the prairies between British Columbia and Ontario, rising into Rupert's Land and the Northwest Territories, a great political crisis begins caused by the Prairie Métis (Indians mixed with French) wanting to retain power. and self-government in its territory. The British crown refuses to recognize their independence. This leads to the war, also called the Red River Rebellion. The Mestiz leader Louis Riel, in order to avoid bloodshed, surrendered and was hanged. This new conquest led to the creation of the Province of Manitoba and its entry into the Confederation in July 1870. The Colony of British Columbia, which included Vancouver Island since 1866, and the Colony of Prince Edward Island entered Confederation in 1871 and 1873, respectively. In order to unify the Union and maintain Canadian power in the western provinces, the government of the Canadian Confederation built three transcontinental railways. roads - especially the Canadian Pacific Railway - and encourages immigrants to develop the Canadian Prairies.
Canada History of Canada Finally, the government of the Canadian Confederation passes the Dominion Lands Act and establishes the famous North-West Mounted Police (now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police). As more immigrants traveled to the Great Plains (also called the Prairies) on transcontinental trains and the region's population grew, some areas of the Northwest Territories received new status, forming the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Autonomy of Canada
Canada History of Canada Being part of the British Empire, Canada enters the First world war in 1914 and sends to Western Front(to Belgium, the Somme and Picardy) divisions composed mainly of volunteers to fight as a national contingent. Of the approximately 625,000 men who served in the corps, about 60,000 were killed and another 173,000 were wounded. The loss of life is so great that the then Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Laird Borden, issued a conscription order in 1917. military service(Conscription crisis of 1917). This decision was extremely unpopular with the Quebec population, which led to the loss of popularity of the Conservative Party in Quebec, as well as the famous Quebec City strike, a response to the Ladies' Road uprising in France. During a large Quebec demonstration, the British army shoots into the crowd and kills many people. Although members of the Liberal Party are deeply divided over the issue of compulsory enrollment, they unite and become the dominant party on the Canadian political scene.
Canada History of Canada In 1919, Canada joined the League of Nations on its own initiative, and in 1931, the Statute of Westminster confirms that henceforth no law of the British Parliament applies to Canadian space without its consent. The competence of the Government of Canada (as well as other British Dominions) is expanding in international and domestic affairs. At the same time, the Great Depression of 1929 affected Canadians of all social classes.
Canada History of Canada Having supported the pacification of Germany in the late 1930s, Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King obtained parliamentary consent to enter World War II in 1939.
Canada History of Canada Canadian troops played important roles in the unsuccessful Dieppe Raid of 1942, the Allied invasion of Italy, the Allied landings in France, the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944. Canada provided refuge and protection to the Dutch monarchy while the country was occupied, and provided credit to the country's leadership in exile until its liberation from Nazi Germany. The Canadian economy experienced a strong boom as industry received large orders for production military equipment for Canada, UK, China and Soviet Union. Despite a new conscription crisis in Quebec, Canada ended the war with one of the largest armies in the world and the second richest economy.
Canada History of Canada At the beginning of the Second World War, Quebec was promised that participation in it would be voluntary. But huge losses in 1944 again led to a conscription crisis (at the time of the conscription announcement, Camillin Houde, then mayor of Montreal, was imprisoned as a result of his official objection).
Canada History of Canada In 1945, during the war, Canada became one of the founding members of the United Nations.
Canada History of Canada In 1949, the Dominion of Newfoundland, previously independent, entered Confederation as the tenth province of Canada. With the transformation of the British Empire into the British Commonwealth, Canada gains its de facto independence, although its constitution is approved in London.
Canada History of Canada Up until the centenary of Canadian Confederation in 1967, massive post-war immigration from various devastated countries in Europe changed the course of the country's demographics. In addition, throughout the Vietnam War, thousands of American dissidents settled throughout the country. Rising immigration, combined with a surge in the birth rate - an economic phenomenon similar to what occurred in the US in the 1960s - and a reaction to the quiet coup in Quebec, is helping to create a new type of Canadian nationalism.
Canada History of Canada The government of the Canadian Confederation created a number of social democratic programs, such as universal health care, the Canada Pension Plan, and Canada Student Loans, although provincial governments, particularly Quebec and Alberta, opposed many of them because they considered them an intrusion into its jurisdiction. Finally, after a series of constitutional conferences, the Canadian Constitution was repatriated from the United Kingdom in 1982, along with the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1999, Nunavut became Canada's third territory after a series of negotiations with the federal government.
Canada History of Canada At the same time, Quebec was undergoing profound social and economic transformations, the Quiet Revolution took place, the nationalist movement was born in the province and the more radical Front for the Liberation of Quebec, whose actions led to the October Crisis in 1970. Ten years later, an unsuccessful referendum on Quebec sovereignty was held in 1980, after which attempts to amend the constitution in 1990 failed. A second referendum was held in 1995, in which sovereignty was rejected by a razor-thin majority of 50.6%, with 49.4% voting in favor of sovereignty for the French-speaking province. In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that unilateral secession from the Confederation would be unconstitutional, and legislation was passed setting out the terms of negotiations to secede from the Confederation.

Canada History of Canada Culture of Canada
Canada History of Canada Constitution of the Canadian Confederation
Canada History of Canada There is no single document acting as a constitution in Canada. The Constitution of Canada refers to a series of consolidated Constitutional Acts of Canada (including the British North America Acts), as well as other documents represented by written texts and oral traditions and agreements. Canada's last major Constitutional Act is the Constitution Act 1982 (the Canada Act), often referred to for simplicity as the Constitution of Canada. The Constitution also includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees Canadians the rights and freedoms that are set forth in it and cannot be violated at any level of the Government of Canada. “These rights and freedoms may only be limited by the rules of law to the extent considered reasonable and the justification of which can be explained in a free and democratic society” (extract from the first article of the Charter). In addition, the “special clause” gives the federal parliament and provincial legislatures the opportunity to establish laws at any time and to the extent that suits legislators, violating for a time some provisions of the Charter (in fundamental freedoms, legal guarantees, in the right to equality - once a five years).


Canada Culture of Canada Features of Canadian culture
Canada Culture of Canada The basis of Canada's cultural identity lies in the traditions of its indigenous peoples. It is believed that the most outstanding examples of fine art were created in the north, by the Inuit, in particular, we are talking about stone sculptures, bone sculptures and wood carvings. Indian artists are also excellent craftsmen in painting fabrics, weaving baskets and carving wood.
Canada Canadian Culture In the past, Canada had to fight for its cultural identity; the influence of its southern neighbor was simply overwhelming. In this confrontation a whole galaxy of great Canadian writers grew up, including Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, Robertson Davies, Michael Ondaatje, Mordecai Richler and Régine Ducharme, as well as a whole wave of worldwide famous musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Yankees Cowboy and Diana Krall.
Canada Canadian Culture English and French are the two official languages ​​of Canada, although only the province of New Brunswick is officially bilingual, with all maps, travel brochures and product labels bilingual. The French spoken in Canada is slightly different from the language spoken in France. In Quebec, where the population is largely of French origin, the local dialect is called Quebecois. Almost all residents understand literary French.
Canada Canadian Culture The differences between the province of Quebec and the rest of English-speaking Canada are not just about language. French influence in Quebec is evident in architecture, music, cuisine and religion. Given the cultural differences that exist, it is understandable that the relationship between French Quebec and English Canada has often been problematic, to put it mildly.
Canada Culture of Canada The official religion in Canada is Catholicism, which professes most of population, but in addition there are many Protestants, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and indigenous Indians with their traditional beliefs. In reality, church attendance is not a requirement for all Canadian denominations.

Canada Canadian Culture Canadian Artists
Art was created both by its indigenous population and by immigrants and their descendants who arrived from Europe and other parts of the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Group of Seven, which operated in Canada in the first half of the 20th century, is considered the first creative association, representing the new national Canadian art. Prior to this, artists working in Canada were strongly influenced by British, French and American artistic traditions. Contemporary Canadian art is a synthesis of various artistic movements brought to the country by bearers of different traditions.
Canada For many thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers and the emergence of the Canadian state, the territory of Canada was inhabited by Indian and Eskimo peoples. Art historians often divide the artistic traditions of the indigenous people of North America (Canada and the United States) into linguistic, cultural or territorial groups. The largest of them are the Northwest Coast Indians, the Interior Plateau Indians, the Great Plains Indians, the Woodland Indians, the Arctic peoples, and the Subarctic peoples. This division is arbitrary, and artistic traditions differ significantly even within these groups. One of the significant differences between indigenous North American art and European art is that the former focused on movable objects and the human body, thereby virtually ignoring architecture. In addition, the distinction between types of art, traditional for European art, is often not fulfilled for North American art: thus, masks are not only valuable in themselves, but play an essential role in ceremonies and rituals, thereby being associated with music, dance and storytelling.
Art of Canada Artists of Canada Most of the extant examples of indigenous art were created after European colonization. Many of them bear traces of clear influence of European art, or even represent a synthesis of different artistic traditions. Materials that were not available to the indigenous people of North America before colonization were often used, such as metal and glass. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century, the Canadian government pursued an active policy of assimilation of the indigenous population, based on the Indian Act of 1876. The practice of traditional religion and manifestations of traditional forms of social organization were prohibited. In particular, this meant banning religious ceremonies such as the Sun Dance and related art. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that Native American artists such as Mungo Martin, Bill Reed, and Norval Morrisseau began to revive artistic traditions and, in some cases, invent new ones to replace lost ones. Currently, many indigenous artists in Canada work in a variety of media.
Art of Canada Artists of Canada Canadian artists At the origins of European art in Canada stood Catholic Church. The first artist of New France is considered to be Hugues Pommier, who arrived in North America from France in 1664 and served as a priest in various places in Quebec, and then took up painting professionally. Another artist from the early colonial period was Claude François, known as Brother Luc. For both of them, the ideal was the art of the late Renaissance, with religious scenes in settings imitating classical ones. Most artists of this period did not sign their works, which makes their attribution much more difficult.
Art of Canada Artists of Canada Canadian Artists By the end of the 17th century, the population of New France had grown significantly, but the territory was becoming increasingly isolated from France. The influx of artists from Europe was small, and work for artists in New France itself was mainly provided by the church. There were two schools on the territory where art was studied. The most significant artist of this period was Pierre Lebert from Montreal. He never traveled outside of New France and was presumably self-educated.
Art of Canada In addition to the work of professional artists, a large number of works (ex-voto) dedicated to a saint and made by amateur artists have been preserved from the period of New France. It is these works that give us the opportunity to imagine the daily life of a French colony in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Canadian Art During the same period, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia were under British rule. The art of these provinces was significantly less developed than in Quebec, which was mainly explained by the position of the Anglican Church, which was not interested in decorating church buildings and did not provide work for artists. Most of the artistic works of this period are associated with the activities of visiting foreign artists.
Art of Canada Artists of Canada Canadian artists The development of Canadian art during the period of English colonization is paradoxically connected with the placement in it after Seven Years' War English troops. Firstly, it was the duty of the military to take pictures of the terrain, since the photography that is now used for this did not exist. Secondly, soldiers who had a lot of free time after the war often painted the landscapes around them and indigenous people, since these works could be sold in Europe as exotic. Thomas Davis is famous for his battle scenes, including the capture of Montreal and the fortress of Louisbourg. Scotsman George Hariot, who immigrated to Canada, created a series of aquatints depicting landscapes of Canada. Forshaw Day is also famous for its landscapes.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Artists of Canada Canadian artists At the end of the 18th century, the rise of the Canadian economy led to an increase in orders for artists from the church and authorities, which, in turn, created the conditions for the flourishing of art. This period, in particular, is characterized by the development portrait painting. François Bellerge studied in London and Paris, then returned to Montreal and worked in the neoclassical style. After the Great French Revolution and Napoleonic wars ties with France were interrupted, and the development of Canadian art proceeded independently. The most significant names of this period include: the German immigrant portrait artist William Bercy, the landscape painter Joseph Legare and his student Antoine Plamondon, the landscape and genre painter Cornelius Krieghoff, often considered the most popular Canadian artist of the 19th century, and also a self-taught Paul Kane, known for his portraits and depictions of Canadian Indians.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada During this period, Canadian art, which was virtually isolated, was deeply provincial and significantly lagged behind the latest European artistic trends.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous artists of Canada Canadian artists After Canada became a dominion, romanticism continued to be the leading artistic style. In 1870 the Canadian art society. The group brought together artists from different backgrounds, speaking both English and French, but not working in a single manner, and the group did not set out to establish any artistic style. The most notable artist in its composition was Frederick Marlette Bell-Smith.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous artists of Canada Canadian artists At the end of the 19th century, realism, deriving from the Barbizon school of painting, became increasingly noticeable in Canadian painting. Its main representatives in Canada were Homer Watson and Horeishio Walker.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous Artists of Canada Canadian Artists A significant turn in Canadian art came in the 1910s, when a group of artists (seven of whom later formally formed the Group of Seven) turned to depicting the Canadian landscape. This was the first association of Canadian artists whose goal was to develop a unified style and search for Canadian identity. The group's influence was so great that by the 1930s it no longer needed a formal existence and was disbanded, replaced by the broader Canadian Painters Group in 1932. The founders of the Group of Seven were Franklin Carmichael, Lauren Harris, Alexander Young Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, James Edward Hervey MacDonald and Frederick Varley. Tom Thomson and Emily Carr were close to the group, but were not part of it.
painting of Canada Famous artists of Canada Canadian artists In the late 1920s, abstract art appeared in Canada, the founders of which were Kathleen Mann and Bertram Brooker. They viewed abstract art as a way of understanding their own soul based on symbolism and mysticism. In the 1930s, following the formal dissolution of the Group of Seven, Lauren Harris also began experimenting with abstract forms and conceptual themes. These artists had a significant influence on the next generation of Canadian artists, and abstract art spread widely in Canada in the post-war years. Several associations of artists were created that developed non-figurative areas of art.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous artists of Canada Canadian artists In 1938, the Eastern Group of Artists was founded in Montreal, declaring art for art's sake as its goal. It was not based on nationalism (like the Group of Seven), but on aesthetic principles. The most notable members of the group were Alexander Berkovich, Goodridge Roberts, Eric Goldberg, Jack Weldon Humprey, John Goodwin Lyman and Jory Smith. The group also proved attractive to Quebec artists who were unmoved by the national idea of ​​the Group of Seven, based in Ontario.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous artists of Canada Canadian artists In the 1930s, various regional artistic movements also developed in Canada. Thus, Emily Carr is known, among other things, for her landscapes of British Columbia. At the same time, well-known Canadian artists-landscape painters David Milne and William Kurelek.
Art of Canada Painting of Canada Famous Artists of Canada Canadian Artists After the Second World War, Canada received substantial government subsidies for the development of the visual arts, which led to the emergence of a large number of artistic associations, the most famous of which are Les Automatistes (founded by Paul-Émile Bordus and under influenced by surrealism), Regina Five and Painters Eleven (abstract art). All over the country began to appear art schools and schools. In sculpture, Eskimo art received significant influence, primarily bone carving.

Contemporary Canadian artists paint beautiful, wonderful paintings about the history of Canada and the beauty of its nature

Canada Paintings by Canadian artists Canada

Canada Paintings by Canadian artists Canada

Canada Paintings by Canadian artists Canada

Canada Paintings by Canadian artists Canada


Artists of Canada (Canadian artists) In our gallery you can get acquainted with the works of the best Canadian artists and Canadian sculptors.

Artists of Canada (Canadian artists) In our gallery you can find and purchase for yourself best works Canadian artists and Canadian sculptors.

Among indigenous tribes, art has developed since prehistoric times: the Inuit carved sculptures from wood or antler, and other tribes also left behind a lot of art, from cave paintings to ornate pottery. The first European emigrants eschewed local customs and supported European traditions. During the 19th and early 20th centuries. local artists traveled to Paris and London to study European art. At the beginning of the 20th century. artists tried to develop a distinctive national style. The country itself has become a permanent subject of Canadian painting: green forests, majestic landscapes and northern wildlife. Today, Canadian art reflects a variety of artistic movements.

Artists of the New World

In the 17th century French settlers in Canada either imported religious paintings or had them commissioned to decorate new churches. Only Samuel de Champlain, the “father of New France,” stood out for his sketches of the Huron tribe. After the war with the British in the 60s. XVIII century art has moved from religious motifs to political topics, country, people. Army officer Thomas Davies (1737–1812) painted beautiful, delicate paintings; you can immediately feel the artist’s love for the nature of his country in them. Robert Field (1769–1819) worked in the neoclassical style that dominated Europe at the time and achieved great fame, as did other Quebec artists Antoine Plamondon (1817–1895) and Théophile Hamel (1817–1870). Cornelius Krieghoff (1815–1872) settled in Quebec and became famous for his snowy landscapes, both settlers and indigenous people appear in his paintings. His contemporary, Paul Kane (1810-1871), studied the lives of the indigenous peoples of Canada during his epic journey through Canada. He left behind about 100 sketches and paintings of their lives, the most impressive of which is Perot (1856). During the 19th century. the artists focused on the theme of Canadian nature. Homer Watson (1855–1936) and Ozias Leduc (1864–1955) were the first artists to learn their craft in their homeland.

Following the formation of Confederation in 1883, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the National Gallery of Canada were founded. Now artists could study their craft in their own country, but many still preferred to go to Paris to study. Curtis Williamson (1867–1944) and Edmund Morris (1871–1913) returned to Canada from France full of strength and determination to revive the national art. In 1907 they founded the Canadian Arts Club, where new trends in painting were presented.

Contemporary artists

The excessive influence of European art on Canada has been criticized by perhaps the most influential group of Canadian artists, the Group of Seven. Before the First World War, Toronto artists protested the lack of national unity in the arts. By the 20s. XX century Thanks to this group, the Canadian style of painting was formed, embodied in bold, bright landscapes. Despite his early death, the artist Tom Thomson also made a major contribution to the development of Canadian painting. In the work of the three most notable artists of the 1930s. the influence of the Group of Seven is felt, but at the same time each of them had their own distinctive features, and each in their works demonstrated love for their home province; David Milne (1882–1953) was famous for his still lifes, L. Fitzgerald (1890–1956) for scenes from Everyday life

The strong influence of the Group of Seven caused protest among new generations of successful artists. John Lyman (1866-1945) denied the group's ardent nationalism. Inspired by the work of Matisse, he moved away from the principle of using the country as the main subject of painting. Dayman founded the Society of Modern Art in Montreal and promoted a new direction in painting in 1939–1948; Even surrealism reached the city.

Since the Second World War, the popularity of new forms of painting based on abstraction has grown sharply. In Montreal, Paul Emile Borduas (1905–1960), with two associates, created a group of “automatists”, preaching the principles of surrealism and abstract impressionism. In the 1950s, Canadian artists received international recognition. Post-war trends also developed in Toronto, where members of the Painters Elven group created abstract paintings. Today, Canadian artists work in completely different styles, both following modern global trends and supporting Canadian cultural traditions.

Indigenous art

Inuit and Northern First Nations art is highly valued in Canada. Among archaeological finds- many works of art of the ancient Inuit - from small sculptures to carved forts, which were then made for religious purposes.

When Europeans arrived on the land of the Inuit, they quickly learned to use their skills to good effect and began to carve sculptures from bones, tusks and stone for sale. Today, Inuit artists such as Akghadluk, K. Ashuna and Tommy Eshevek are recognized for their contributions to contemporary Canadian art (their sculptures are especially prized). North Shore Indigenous sculptures are renowned throughout the world, especially the cedar carvings of Bill Reed and.

totem poles by Richard Krentz

Indigenous art celebrates their legendary survival skills, stories and myths, as well as their land and the struggle to preserve it.

Sculpture European sculpture became famous in Canada with the advent of the French, who made sacred sculptures to decorate churches. Sculptors, including Louis Quevillon (1749–1832), created decorative altarpieces and marble statues in Montreal. European traditions

Elements of indigenous style are visible in many 20th century sculptures., as well as the elements European styles, including Art Nouveau and Art Deco. In the 1960s Canadian sculptors sought to develop a national style. The use of modern materials and the influence of conceptual art are characteristic features of the work of contemporary Canadian sculptors, such as Michael Snow.