Cool Depths

Circle Arts International, Toronto Joyner Canadian Fine Art, auction, Toronto, November 15, 1996, lot 208 Private Collection, Calgary

Robert Burford Mason, “A Grand Eye for Glory: A Life of Franz Johnston,” Toronto, 1998, page 13 and 40

Franz Johnston was praised for his handling of light and his ability to capture contrasts between sunlit colour and depths of shade. His treatment of the Canadian landscape in a decorative style set him apart from other Group of Seven members. In a review of his first independent exhibition in 1920, the “Globe and Mail” remarked on this approach: “Keen dramatic sense, Mr. Johnston leans strongly to the decorative treatment of his subject.” “Cool Depths” showcases the artist’s ability to transform the ordinary to the ornate – a marshy stream empties into a deep green pool of water dappled with the reflection of the lush forest. Johnston’s romanticization of his subjects continued throughout his career. A 1942 exhibition review stated: “Franz has a grand eye for glory. He seldom paints anything because it’s grim or ugly.”