Art Report
ALEXANDER YOUNG
JACKSON
Written By:
Zehra Nasirali
For: Mrs. Hummel
Date: 14th April, 1997
Alexander Young Jackson was part of the "Group of Seven.' I chose this artist because I found his paintings to be very interesting and natural. Also in my research, I made out that he was a very polite gentleman and also very optimistic.
Determined to be a painter, A. Y. Jackson was born on October the third, 1882 in Montreal. He was forced to earn his living from an early age because his father walked out on their family after several business failures. The poor wife was left to bring up her six children, all by herself.
During 1896-99, he went to night schools based on 'Arts and Manufacturers.' He also studied at 'Academic Julien,' Paris, for travelling and sketching and also at 'Le Monument National' in Montreal in 1902. He began as an office boy in a lithography camp, then after a short stay in Europe, he went to Chicago where he worked for a commercial art firm. Then in 1907, since he had enough money saved, he allowed himself to go to France and study the 'rudiments of Impressionism' as a treat; and "addition to his knowledge. This was at the period of Picasso, when Jackson decided to give up commercial artwork and become a professional artist. Then in 1909, Jackson returned to Canada and painted his first canvases at Sweetsburg, Quebec. One of his first oil-based canvases became a famous and well-known one. It is recognized as
'The Edge of the Maple Wood'
"It was through Cullin and Morris that we in Montreal first became aware of the fresh and invigorating movements going on in the art circle of France,” A. Y. Jackson said. From this quote, I realized that it was in Quebec that this event of artistic movements influenced the painter I chose, A. Y. Jackson.
This painter preferred to paint nature. His paintings were very neat and bright; the oil canvases are good examples. But at times, his paintings were dull, but yet contrasted, just like the Sand Dunes' he painted in 1912. His paintings were also very realistic. He was very positive about Canadian Landscape. The direction of his paintings was also very important. You can never see any of his brush strokes; they are smooth and hidden. He was very talented. Lismer, a painter, also remembers how his paintings stood out from all the other works like a 'glowing flame packed with potential energy and loveliness.' His paintings opened people's eyes, including my very own, to the possibilities of the Canadian Landscape as those people in the past, describe his work to have a very glimmering touch of 'Native Flavour.' Even after his death, April the fifth, 1974, Ontario, which is where he died, his paintings will always be appreciated by everyone, and his talent and his humble character will be remembered throughout the future.
In conclusion, I have learnt a lot from this painter. Not only on how to excel in painting but also to look at life and particularly Canadian Landscape from a wholistic point of view. May god rest his soul! Amen!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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