Key Takeaways
- Lawren Harris is one of the most renowned Canadian artists and a founding member of the Group of Seven.
- He freed his painting style from European influences to a distinctly modern and Canadian minimalist aesthetic.
- His work was recognized in his lifetime and beyond, particularly his paintings of Lake Superior and the Canadian Rockies.
When you think about Canadian art, it is likely the Group of Seven that comes to mind with their modern interpretations of Canadian wilderness and culture. If you dig a bit deeper, you'll probably find the name of Lawren Harris.
We were told, quite seriously, that there never would be a Canadian art because we had no art tradition.
Lawren Harris
With his signature artistic style and deep connection with northern landscapes, Harris' work has inspired generations of aspiring Canadian artists and designers. Millions of people view his legacy of paintings at galleries across Canada and students continue to learn about his career, life, and painting style.
This article is all about Lawren Harris and his work. We will explore his career and the key paintings that have helped to define Canadian identity for millions.
The Life and Career of Lawren Harris
Lawren Harris was born on October 23, 1885 in Brantford, Ontario. Known for being a founding member of the Group of Seven, Harris influenced generations of painters and created art that came to define a Canadian fine art aesthetic.
Harris grew up in an affluent home due to his family's successful farm machinery business. When the Harris business merged with Massey Manufacturing, they become the largest agricultural firm in the Briitsh Empire.
Harris attended Toronto’s St. Andrew’s College and and the University of Toronto. A professor at the University of Toronto encouraged Harris to study art in Europe. After four years of study in Berlin, he returned to Canada and started sketching nature and his local surroundings.
Harris went on sketching trips to the Laurentians and Haliburton, and drew and painted houses in downtown Toronto. Eventually, he would befriend fellow artists J.E.H. MacDonald and Tom Thomson.
Starting the Group of Seven
In 1913, Harris and MacDonald were inspired by an exhibition of Scandinavian art at the Albright Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.
He formed the Group of Seven in the early 1920s, based on the belief that Canada needed a national art movement. The Group of Seven found artistic inspiration in places like Algonquin Park, Georgian Bay, and the Canadian Rockies.
In the 1920s period he demonstrated his prowess as a landscape painter through works like Above Lake Superior (1924) and Maligne Lake (1924).
Harris visited Algoma many times, where he found inspiration in the natural world. He also visited places like Lake Superior, the Arctic and the Canadian Rockies, where he would continue to find subjects for his work.
Harris was known for reducing the shapes of mountains, shorelines, trees, lakes, and clouds to their essential forms, creating austere and striking landscapes.
Lawren Harris, a key member of the Group of Seven, encouraged Emily Carr’s artistic development and supported her work.
Later Work and Death
Harris became an artist in residence at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He delved deeply into abstract art, and explored connections between abstraction, nature, and spirituality. He was honoured with two retrospectives of his work during his lifetime.
Harris passed away at the age of 84 in Vancouver in 1970.
Lawren Harris Career Timeline
1904-1907
Studies in Europe
Studies art in Berlin, Germany, where he is influenced by European modernism.
1913
Algoma
Travels to the Algoma region and starts painting the Canadian wilderness.
1920
Group of Seven
Co-founds the Group of Seven, dedicated to developing a distinct Canadian art style.
1920-1928
Paintings
Paints landscapes of Algoma and Lake Superior, characterized by bold colors and shifts to painting the Rockies and Arctic regions with a geometric style.
1930
Canadian Group of Painters
Leaves Group of Seven to form new arts community, Canadian Group of Painters.
1969
Awards
Recieves the Companion of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian art.
Major Exhibitions
Harris was honoured by the Art Gallery of Ontario, and and the famous gallery held a 1978 exhibition entitled “Urban Scenes and Wilderness Landscapes”, 1906-1930.
Renowned actor, comedian, and writer Steve Martin curated a touring exhibition of Harris’ work, starting at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, California in 2015. The majority of his work is housed in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.
Tom Thomson spent much of his time in Algonquin Park, where he found inspiration for his iconic depictions of nature.
The Style of Lawren Harris Abstract Painting and Landscapes
Harris' early work took on a distinct European style, and he focused on urban scenes in Toronto using a Post-Impressionist style. As he grew as an artist, he leaned toward simplified, nearly abstract landscapes focused on form and light.
Here are some key elements of Harris' style.
- Bold, geometric shapes: Mountains, lakes, and skies were reduced to their essential forms.
- Minimalism: His later works became increasingly abstract, eliminating unnecessary details.
- Spirituality: Influenced by Theosophy, Harris viewed nature as a symbol of higher consciousness.
- Strong contrasts: Harris used highlights and shadows to create a sense of mystery and grandeur.
Franklin Carmichael specialized in watercolours and often painted the rolling hills, forests, and rural scenes of Ontario.
The Most Notable Lawren Harris Paintings
Understanding Lawren Harris Lake Superior Paintings
Harris is known for his paintings of Lake Superior, which he painted in the early 1920s with fellow Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson. On these trips, he explored the North Shore, where he saw first hand the starkness of the landscape.
This journey marked a shift from his focus on traditional landscape art toward more modern, minimalist, sculptural forms. "North Shore, Lake Suprerior" (1926), for example, is a striking depiction of the lake featuring smooth, rounded hills. Similarly, "Lake Superior" (1923) provides a simplified view of the landscape, highlighting solitude and spirituality. "Pic Island" (1924) captures an isolated island in light and shadow.
The work Harris completed in Lake Superior places his later mountain paintings into context, as he developed a style of reducing nature to its essential shapes.
The Group of Seven was a Canadian art collective that sought to create a uniquely national style by painting the country’s rugged landscapes.
Exploring Lawren Harris Mountain Paintings
After Lake Superior, Harris started to focus on the Rocky Mountains, where he was enraptured by the snow-covered peaks and luminous skies. Inspired by his belief in Theosophy, he saw mountains as emblems of enlightenment, mystery, and transcendence.
Like his lake paintings, his mountain paintings incorporate simplified, geometric shapes for a sculptural aesthetic. Deep shadows and glowing highlights imbue this series of work, evoking majesty and awe. He also started removing details he felt were redundant, making the mountains appear otherworldly.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Harris turned his attention to the Rocky Mountains, where he painted vast, snow-covered peaks rising against luminous skies. Inspired by his spiritual beliefs, particularly Theosophy, Harris saw mountains as symbols of transcendence, mystery, and inner enlightenment.
"Mountain Forms" (1926), for example, features a towering peak with sweeping curves. "Isolation Peak" (1930) depicts a lone mountain, symbolizing solitude and spiritual strength. "Maligne Lake, Jasper Park" (1924) is a peaceful and dreamy interpretation of one of Canada's most famous lakes.
Tom Thomson's mysterious death in 1917 remains one of Canada’s greatest unsolved mysteries, but his artistic legacy continues to inspire generations.
The Impact of Lawren Harris on Other Artists
Harris is well known as the main force behind the Group of Seven, both as an artist and as a financial benefactor. He encouraged members like A.Y. Jackson, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Franklin Carmichael to try new things with colour, form and abstraction.
The Lake Superior paintings set a new standard for Canadian art, and has pushed other artists toward developing more stylized and mystical interpretations of the natural world. Other artists influenced by Harris include:
- Emily Carr: Harris' contemporary was inspired by his landscapes. She became more confident in using her expressive brushstrokes and symbolism after meeting him.
- Bertram Brooker: Brooker, an abstract artist, was interested in Harris' ideas of spirituality and abstraction.
- Ted Harrison: Harrison's landscapes of Northern Canada echo Harris' use of bold colour and shape.
- Dorothy Knowles: contemporary landscape painter influenced by Harris' use of light and atmosphere.
What is the Best Way to Learn Lawren Harris Art and Art History?
Are you inspired by the work of Lawren Harris and want to enhance your art studies? Whether it is learning how to paint, or getting help with your art history degree program, Superprof Canada is here to help.
Superprof is a site that connects students to tutors, including art teachers. You can find a private instructor who can teach you the basics of landscape painting, or support you as your earn your fine art history degree. They can help prepare you for exams, develop concise interpretations of art, and give you feedback on research papers.
Why delay on your success? Find a tutor on Superprof Canada.
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