Pine Wrack 1933 by Arthur Lismer

Arthur Lismer was born June 27th, 1885 in Sheffield England. At age 13 he apprenticed at a photo-engraving company. He was awarded a scholarship, and used this time to take evening classes at the Sheffield School of Arts from 1898 until 1905.In 1905, he moved to Antwerp, Belgium, where he studied art at the Academie Royale. Lismer immigrated to Canada in 1911, settled in Toronto, Ontario and took a job with Grip Ltd.

The collaboration of four artists at Grip gradually evolved into the “Group of Seven”, whose work was intended to contribute to the process of giving Canada a distinctive national voice in painting.The group was known for its depictions of the North American wilderness. He also worked with the cadre at Grip.

Arthur Lismer’s style was influenced by his pre-Canadian experience (primarily in Antwerp), where he found the Barbizon andpost-impressionist movements a key inspiration. Collaborating with the group of artists who would, in 1919, become the Group of Seven, Lismer exhibited the characteristic organic style, and spiritual connection with the landscape that would embody that group’s work. That same year, he became the first artistic director of the Hart House Theatre until 1921.During the Centennial of the City of Toronto, in 1934, Lismer was on the Pictures Committee. His work in art education was effective; and this service to the wider community caused Lismer to become influential in ways not achieved by his artist colleagues. For example, he started a children’s art program at the Art Gallery of Toronto, which became successful in the 1930s.