1885, Sheffield, England – 1969, Montreal, Quebec)
A visionary arts educator, Lismer led progressive programs in Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto, at both the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario) and as Vice President of the Ontario College of Art (now OCADU). His bold rhythmic landscapes reflected an early fascination with the Barbizon school but grew more vivid and bolder over time. A skilled draughtsman, his depictions of the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion were reproduced in newspapers around the world. Lismer designed the Group of Seven’s now iconic logo in 1920.
Arthur Lismer, Sumach and Maple, Huntsville, 1915. Oil on canvas, Overall: 126.9 x 101.2 cm. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario, 2017. Photo © AGO. 2017/169
