Carmichael estate stamp verso. Inventory #W-87

Provenance

Franklin Carmichael estate, by descent

Private collection, Ontario

In April 1920, the Group of Seven was established by A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris, J.E.H MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston and Franklin Carmichael.

The group held its first exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto, now the AGO, from May 7 to 27, 1920.

In 1925, Carmichael, Harris and Jackson ventured to the northern shore of Lake Superior. On the trip, Carmichael opted to use watercolour rather than his usual oil paints. He used watercolour consistently from this point onward, painting some of his most famous works with the medium. After this initial experience, he would return several more times to the region, including in 1926 and 1928.

Carmichael’s North Shore, Lake Superior watercolours are exceptionally rare and highly coveted by collectors, largely because he created them during limited sketching trips to the area. While known for his oil paintings, Carmichael specialized in using delicate, yet vibrant watercolours to capture the region’s dramatic skies and rugged, rounded hills, often producing works that are considered his most iconic and significant contributions to his Group of Seven work.