Canada Post issued a set of seven stamps to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Group of Seven’s first art exhibition, which took place in May 1920 at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario). The artists that presented their masterpieces were Franklin Carmichael, Lawren S. Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Frank H. Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. In addition to displaying a painting, each stamp includes the name of the artist at the bottom and the name and date of the painting reading up on the right side.
At the original 20-day exhibition which opened on May 7, more than 2,000 people attended the showing. It received many positive reviews, including one by Canadian Courier writer Augustus Bridle, who praised the “work of men who act on the belief that Canada has a colour scheme and subject interest entirely her own.”
Never before featured on Canadian stamps, the paintings in this set represent outstanding examples of the work of each original member and were selected by the Canadian Stamp Advisory Committee. These seven works are In the Nickel Belt (1928) by Franklin Carmichael, Miners’ Houses, Glace Bay (circa 1925) by Lawren S. Harris, Labrador Coast (1930) by A.Y. Jackson, Fire-swept, Algoma (1920) by Frank H. Johnston, Village (1926) by Arthur Lismer, Church by the Sea (1924), by J.E.H. MacDonald, Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay (1921) by F.H. Varley.
See also other art stamps.
