signed lower right; signed, titled and inscribed “60 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.” on the reverse
22 × 26.75 in (55.9 × 67.9 cm)
(including Buyer's Premium)
Henry Eugene Sellers, Winnipeg (1886-1970)
By descent to Edward A. Sellers (1916-1985), Winnipeg/Toronto
By descent to the present Private Collection, Kingston/Ottawa
Possibly Exhibition and Sale: Sketches by Lawren Harris, The Fine Art Galleries, T. Eaton Co., Toronto, from 15 October 1951
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Lawren Harris revisited the forests of Algoma, a region central to his early development, with a markedly refined and stylized approach. In Tamarack Swamp, Algoma, Harris presents an abstracted vision of the forest with four distinct layers of trees leading the eye into the painting. A screen of tall, leafless trees with stylized branches fills the foreground, with a few scattered yellow leaves floating on the still water. Behind are rows of teal, forest green and orange trees under a pale aqua sky.
This painting is based on an oil sketch titled Algoma Sketch LIV—Beaver Drowned Algoma (University of Lethbridge Collection) which he likely completed around 1920. Members of the Group spent time at Mongoose Lake at the time and Jackson wrote about their propensity to explore beaver-drowned lands in the area. J.E.H. MacDonald also created an oil sketch of what is likely the same swamp, seemingly painted at the same time. The sketch is very similar to the final painting, with the same compositional structure, colour scheme and stylized branches. The sketch has much of the original wooden board showing through, particularly around the branches. In Tamarack Swamp, Algoma, executed on a white ground, Harris deliberately painted in ochre areas to replicate the effect of the exposed wooden board seen in the original sketch.
The note on the verso of the Algoma Sketch LIV suggests perhaps the prominent Winnipeg art collector John A. MacAulay had this sketch set aside for him—or perhaps it was even owned by him for a time. Algoma Sketch LIV was owned by Dr. Margaret Perkins Hess, a well-known Canadian art historian and philanthropist. Following her death, her estate donated it, along with approximately one thousand artworks, to the University of Lethbridge.
There are two other large oil-on-board Algoma pictures by Harris that were both owned by MacAulay. One is now in the Winnipeg Art Gallery (Agawa River, Algoma). The other (Pines and Clouds, Algoma) was in a selling show in 1951 at Eaton’s in Toronto, advertised in The Globe and Mail. Tamarack Swamp, Algoma was likely executed circa 1950 and included in the exhibition of works by Lawren Harris at T. Eaton Co. in 1951.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Harris painted several larger landscapes on board based on Group period sketches. The later date for the execution of the work is also confirmed by the partial address on the verso—Harris’ Vancouver address. It is likely that this was a repurposed piece of Masonite that was previously used to house, ship or transport artworks. Then the board was cut down and used as a support for Tamarack Swamp, Algoma (hence the partial address).
Tamarack Swamp, Algoma was possibly included in the Exhibition and Sale: Sketches by Lawren Harris at The Fine Art Galleries at T. Eaton Co. in October 1951 and subsequently purchased. Three generations of a family have since enjoyed the painting as a treasured part of their art collection.
We extend our thanks to Alec Blair, Director/Lead Researcher of the Lawren S. Harris Inventory Project, for assisting with the research on this artwork.
