The 1975 exhibition: Media Index

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Dirty Thirties Art Enjoys Renaissance
The Herald
01 Aug 1975

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Dirty Thirties Art Enjoys Renaissance

Article reviewing Canadian Painting in the Thirties, an exhibit organized by the National Gallery of Canada, at the Glenbow-Alberta Institute. The exhibition consists of 53 paintings by 33 artists, including A.Y. Jackson, Goodridge Roberts and Paul-Émile Borduas. The Group of Seven?s emphasis on Canadianism, as expressed in landscape, was challenged by artists interested in international trends. Canadian art in the 1930s saw a development towards European and American trends, as well as a shift from Toronto to Montreal and from the Group of Seven to the Contemporary Arts Society, under the leadership of John Lyman, Paul-Émile Borduas and Maurice Gagnon. The show is researched and organized by Charles C. Hill and accompanied by a catalogue and film series, including The World of David Milne, Varley and Lismer. The exhibition illustrates the artistic and social tensions, as the world set the stage for World War II. John Lyman?s Card Players, André Bieler?s Gatineau Madonna and Philip Surrey?s painting of farm folk are included in the show. David Milne is quoted as saying that ?artists stand depressions quite well.? The exhibition includes paintings of landscapes and social commentary of the Depression era. Article illustrated with a black and white reproduction of André Bieler?s Gatineau Madonna.