Ian M. Thom, E.J. Hughes, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2002, page 99
As art movements in Canada rapidly evolved into abstraction and minimalism, Nanaimo-native E.J. Hughes maintained a steadfast and unique dedication to realism throughout his long career. His distinct and nostalgic style consisted of flattened perspective and simplified forms. On the subject of the association between realist art and photography, the artist proclaimed: “If I didn’t have a conviction that a serious painter can portray Nature more profoundly than the best colour photography, I’d probably give it all up or go abstract or take up photography.”
“Indian Church, North Vancouver, B.C.” attests to Hughes’ meticulous and painstaking approach to illustrating the landscapes of British Columbia. During the 1950s, the artist approached each painting through a series of drawings, beginning with intricately detailed notes outlining full reference for the picture’s theme. Hughes typically completed a detailed graphite drawing known as the “cartoon”, which was then ruled off into squares in order for the composition to be transferred to the canvas. These squares in lines of graphite are visible in “Indian Church, North Vancouver, B.C.”, suggesting that the artist was preparing to make the final canvas version. The drawing depicts St. Paul’s Indian Church, which is the oldest surviving Catholic church in Greater Vancouver. The Gothic Revival-style building was constructed in 1884 by the Sacred Heart Mission for the Squamish native population.
Edward John Hughes - Indian Church, North Vancouver, B.C. | Cowley Abbott
