A First Book of Canadian Art

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

Richard Rhodes is the editor of Canadian Art magazine. He may be
criticized for aspiring to cover such a wealth of art and art history in
one relatively short book, but A First Book of Canadian Art is exactly
that: a wide-ranging introduction to more than 300 years of Canada’s
formal art beginning with New France. Ambitious in scope, the book
ranges from drawings on rock faces and carvings on antlers to
abstractionists Jean Paul Riopelle, Paul-Emile Borduas, and Joyce
Wieland. Native artists are represented by painter Norval Morrisseau,
carver Bill Reid, and sculptor Edward Poitras. One chapter titled
“Woman’s View” draws on works by Genevieve Cadieux, Barbara
Steinman, Betty Goodwin, et al.

Canadian Impressionism is represented by several chapters, including
one on Quebecers Marc-Aurele Suzor-Cфté, Maurice Cullen, and Clarence
Gagnon. Tom Thomson has a short chapter to himself. The Group of Seven
is represented by A.Y. Jackson, Frederick Varley, and Lawren Harris.

Color photographs form the heart of the book and the paintings speak
volumes. Despite its brevity, A First Book of Canadian Art affords an
excellent introduction to the subject for young people and also for many
adults. Highly recommended.