Lake of Two Rivers - Algonquin Park, 1942

Private Collection, Toronto

Ian Thom, “Casson’s Cassons”, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, 1988, pages 5 and 18 Paul Duval, “A.J. Casson, A Tribute”, Toronto, 1980, pages 204-205 for the related canvas “Fishing Trip” (1945)

In the early 1940s A.J. Casson remained steadily busy with commercial projects, which grew out of the necessity for print and design work for World War II propaganda and initiatives. As a result, Casson was limited in his capability to travel too far afield on sketching trips. Algonquin park became a frequent destination from 1942 to 1945, due to the park’s proximity to Toronto. In the summer of 1942 Casson and his family visited the picturesque Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park. As suggested by the name, this lake is surrounded by two rivers, with the Madawaska River entering from the west and exiting from the east. Often thought of as the heart of Algonquin Park, Lake of Two Rivers boasts a scenic landscape with lush forests surrounding the shoreline. The popular historic retreat of Killarney Lodge resides on the lake, enticing adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. During their holiday at Lake of Two Rivers, the Casson family would row across the lake to a perfectly situated island. It is the viewpoint from this island that Casson has chosen to depict. The rich foliage of trees and hilly formations across from the island hide the remnants of the Lake of Two Rivers Mill. This mill was operated year-round from 1933-1942 by the McRae Family, with workers living at the camp throughout the harsh winter. The McRae Lumber Company has been part of the lucrative timber trade for generations, with a modern mill now operating outside of Algonquin Park in Whitney, Ontario. Casson has presented the Canadian landscape for pure aesthetic value in “Lake of Two Rivers - Algonquin Park”, with the sun shimmering across the lake and radiating through the tree-covered hills. The artist encapsulates the raw beauty of the landscape, exploring light and shadow while maintaining drama and luminosity. The shoreline of barren tree trunks set amongst the rocks and foliage is a stark reminder of the history of the region and the endurance of nature over man. This sketch, as well as another work of the same year entitled “Summer Haze, Lake of Two Rivers”, informed Casson’s monumental canvas “Fishing Trip” of 1945. “The nineteen-forties were a fertile period for Casson,” explains Ian Thom. “Many of these works are splendid explorations of light and form.” In firm command of his medium and creative brilliance, Casson has created an atmospheric composition emblematic of Ontario’s north, and reflective of humanity’s connection with nature.