signed lower left
14 × 14.5 in (35.6 × 36.8 cm) (sight)
Private Collection, Toronto
Cowley Abbott, auction, Toronto, 15 June 2022, lot 21
Private Collection
Frank Hans Johnston was drawn to wooded areas and small rural lakes, often exploring the interplay of light and shadow among tree trunks. Executed in a decorative style, Fall Reflections showcases his attention to detail and impressionistic handling of paint, with delicate dabs of paint enlivening the paper. Unlike many of his colleagues, who typically painted outdoors in oil, Johnston often favoured fast-drying tempera or gouache for his plein air studies, allowing him to capture the atmosphere of the landscape. Although Johnston later destroyed many of these works, surviving examples offer rare insight into his ability to render the landscape with fine precision while preserving the luminosity of his surroundings.
