Winchester Galleries, Victoria
Private Collection, Victoria
In the fall of 1918, Frank Johnston joined his colleagues, Lawren Harris, Dr. MacCallum and J.E.H. MacDonald on his first boxcar trip into Algoma, where he found inspiration in the rugged wilderness. He immersed himself in the grandeur of Agawa Canyon, Agawa River and the surrounding landscape for almost a week. It was during this time that Johnston began to employ tempera as his predominant medium, whilst his fellow artists painted mostly in oils. Johnston became very proficient in tempera, utilizing its qualities to create subtle patterns of colour and form. “Row of Poplars” exemplifies Johnston’s mastery of the medium to illustrate a play of light, depth, colour and pattern.
