Group of Seven

These men are a few of the members of the Group of Seven. If I were to simply stumble across this photo, I would have assumed them to be businessmen or bankers. Instead, they represent my favourite artists. (Of course, when I say they by no means do I mean to limit the "they" bit to seven. Even without Tom Thompson - the best of the bunch - they numbered more than seven)

Perhaps I'm biased by nationalism. Or maybe, it's that I've seen some of those same places and from the rugged, windblown and bare to the quiet views, twisted and dripping with branches, they captured our landscapes like no one had before. To see a canvas from across the room is stunning.

I forget about them from time to time. They aren't in my art history books. Yet clearly to me, it is not because they don't belong with the likes of Monet and Turner. So thank you Barbara, for reminding me once again how much I love their work. I love the book you sent.

(Oh yes, and mother, they are so much better than those English bed-wetting types. I fart in their general direction. )