Boulter, Near Combermere, 1968

Private Collection, Toronto

A.J. Casson became a full-time artist after his retirement from his successful career as a commercial artist in 1957. During the 1960s, when this picture was completed, Casson exhibited regularly with the Roberts Gallery and was able to focus on his craft. Boulter is near Maynooth, northeast of Bancroft, an area where Casson often painted. Famed for his depictions of the more settled areas of southern Ontario, Casson set himself apart from the other Group members by dedicating much of his artistic career to the continuously changing climes of rural Ontario. "Boulter, Near Combermere" features simple wooden outbuildings nestled in a valley surrounded by forests and hills, which hint at the presence of local villagers. Known as the youngest member of the Group of Seven, Casson’s work helped to shape the Group’s aesthetic through its simplified forms and bold colours. Here we see the lush and rolling landscape typical of the area. A selective and distinct colour palette is synonymous with Casson’s work. The greens, blues and variations of light brown evoke the warm sunlight of a summer day, while the stretching bands of cloud glide over the mountains in the background. Casson’s lines are graceful and clean and distinctively his own. The artist captures a serene and reflective moment in rural Ontario.