Tom Thomson

Tom Thomson
Life & Work by David P. Silcox
Turner, William J.M. (British, 1775–1851)
Widely considered the foremost British landscape painter of the nineteenth century,
Turner imbued his paintings with an expressive romanticism. His subject matter ranged
from local landscapes to otherworldly natural events. He has been heralded as a
precursor to both Impressionism and modernist abstract art.
van der Weyden, Harry (American, 1864–1952)
This Boston-born artist painted Impressionist landscapes and portraits in oil. He
emigrated to England in 1870 and, after participating in the First World War, he painted
a series of war scenes.
van Gogh, Vincent (Dutch, 1853–1890)
Among the most recognizable and beloved of modernist painters, Van Gogh is the
creator of Starry Night and Vase with Sunflowers, both from 1889. He is a nearly
mythological figure in Western culture, the archetypal “tortured artist” who achieves
posthumous fame after a lifetime of struggle and neglect.
Varley, F.H. (Frederick Horsman) (Canadian/British, 1881–1969)
A founding member of the Group of Seven, known for his contributions to Canadian
portraiture as well as landscape painting. Originally from Sheffield, England, Varley
moved to Toronto in 1912 at the encouragement of his friend Arthur Lismer. From 1926
to 1936 he taught at the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, now known
as Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Wieland, Joyce (Canadian, 1930–1998)
A central figure in contemporary Canadian art, Wieland engaged with painting,
filmmaking, and cloth and plastic assemblage to explore with wit and passion ideas
related to gender, national identity, and the natural world. In 1971 she became the first
living Canadian woman artist to have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.
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