Defiant Spirits : The Modernist Revolution of the Group of Seven

Beginning in 1912, Defiant Spirits traces the artistic development of Tom Thomson and the future members of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley, over a dozen years in Canadian history. Working in an eclectic and sometimes controversial blend of modernist styles, they produced what an English critic celebrated in the 1920s as the “most vital group of paintings” of the 20th century. Inspired by Cézanne, Van Gogh and other modernist artists, they tried to interpret the Ontario landscape in light of the strategies of the international avant-garde. Based after 1914 in the purpose-built Studio Building for Canadian Art, the young artists embarked on what Lawren Harris called “an all-engrossing adventure”: travelling north into the anadian Shield and forging a style of painting appropriate to what they regarded as the unique features of Canada’s northern landscape. Sumptuously illustrated, rigorously researched and drawn from archival documents and letters, Defiant Spirits constitutes a “group biography,” reconstructing the men’s aspirations, frustrations and achievements. It details not only the lives of Tom Thomson and the members of the Group of Seven but also the political and social history of Canada during a time when art exhibitions were venues for debates about Canadian national identity and cultural worth. The Group Of Seven, Sometimes Known As The Algonquin School, Were A Group Of Canadian Landscape Painters In The Early 20th Century Who Initiated The First Canadian Art Movement. Original Members Include: Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.e.h. Macdonald, And Frederick Varley. A Wild Deserted Spot -- This Wealthy Promised Land -- Ein Toronto Realist -- Eerie Wilderness -- Life On The Mississagi -- Wild Men Of The North -- The Infanticist School -- The Happy Isles -- Rites Of Paysage -- The Young School -- Men With Good Red Blood In Their Veins -- The Great Explosion -- White Feathers And Tangled Gardens -- The Line Of Beauty -- Imperishable Splendour -- Shades Of Grey -- The Vortex Of War -- The Dweller On The Threshold -- The Great Konodian Army -- The Spirit Of Young Canada -- A Septenary Fatality -- Are These New Canadian Painters Crazy? -- Multiples Of Ugliness -- By The Shining Big-sea-water -- Gypsies, Lepers And Freaks -- Wembley -- Epilogue : The End Of The Trail. Ross King. Co-published By: Douglas & Mcintyre. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References: P. 467-471. Also Issued In Electronic Format. Beginning in 1912, Defiant Spirits traces the artistic development of Tom Thomson and the future members of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley, over a dozen years in Canadian history. Working in an eclectic and sometimes controversial blend of modernist styles, they produced what an English critic celebrated in the 1920s as the "most vital group of paintings" of the 20th century. A Governor General's Award-winning author, Ross King, recounts the turbulent years during which a group of young Canadian painters went from obscurity to international renown. Sumptuously illustrated, rigorously researched and drawn from archival documents and letters, Defiant Spirits constitutes a "group biography," reconstructing the men's aspirations, frustrations and achievements. It details not only the lives of Tom Thomson and the members of the Group of Seven but also the political and social history of Canada during a time when art exhibitions were venues for debates about Canadian national identity and cultural worth. Beginning in 1912, Defiant Spirits traces the artistic development of Tom Thomson and the future members of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley, over a dozen years in Canadian history. Working in an eclectic and sometimes controversial blend of modernist styles, they produced what an English critic celebrated in the 1920s as the “most vital group of paintings” of the 20th century. Inspired by Cézanne, Van Gogh and other modernist artists, they tried to interpret the Ontario landscape in light of the strategies of the international avant-garde. Based after 1914 in the purpose-built Studio Building for Canadian Art, the young artists embarked on what Lawren Harris called “an all-engrossing adventure”: travelling north into the anadian Shield and forging a style of painting appropriate to what they regarded as the unique features of Canada’s norther... Art / CanadianBiography & Autobiography / Artists "Beginning in 1912, Defiant Spirits traces the artistic development of Tom Thomson and the future members of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley, over a dozen years in Canadian history. Working in an eclectic and sometimes controversial blend of modernist styles, they produced what an English critic celebrated in the 1920s as the 'most vital group of paintings' of the 20th century. Inspired by Cézanne, Van Gogh and other modernist artists, they tried to interpret the Ontario landscape in light of the strategies of the international avant-garde. Based after 1914 in the purpose-built Studio Building for Canadian Art, the young artists embarked on what Lawren Harris called 'an all-engrossing adventure': travelling north into the Canadian Shield and forging a style of painting appropriate to what they regarded as the unique features of Canada's northern landscape Machine generated contents note: BOOK I -- 1. A Wild Deserted Spot -- 2. This Wealthy Promised Land -- 3. Ein Toronto Realist -- 4. Eerie Wildernesses -- 5. Life on the Mississagi -- 6. Wild Men of the North -- 7. The Infanticist School -- 8. The Happy Isles -- 9. Rites of Paysage -- 10. The Young School -- BOOK II -- 1. Men with Good Red Blood in Their Veins -- 2. The Great Explosion -- 3. White Feathers and Tangled Gardens -- 4. The Line of Beauty -- 5. Imperishable Splendour -- 6. Shades of Grey -- 7. The Vortex of War -- 8. The Dweller on the Threshold -- 9. The Great Konodian Army -- BOOK III -- 1. The Spirit of Young Canada -- 2. A Septenary Fatality -- 3. Are These New Canadian Painters Crazy? -- 4. Multiples of Ugliness -- 5. By the Shining Big-Sea-Water -- 6. Gypsies, Lepers and Freaks -- 7. Wembley. A Governor General's Award-winning author recounts the turbulent years during which a group of young Canadian painters went from obscurity to international renown. Beginning in 1912, Defiant Spirits traces the artistic development of Tom Thomson and the future members of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley, over a dozen years in Canadian history. Working in an eclectic and sometimes controversial blend of modernist styles, they produced what an English critic celebrated in the 1920s as th