The Fire Ranger 1920

Frank Johnston made The Fire Ranger, with oil and possibly some other mediums, to give it that incredible texture. Look at the way the clouds are rendered; it's all about these horizontal strokes, one after another, building up this massive, almost overwhelming sky. And those colors! The yellows and browns against the dark blues create this contrast that's both beautiful and a little ominous. The paint application here is so physical. It's like he's sculpting the landscape with each stroke, but there is a flatness to it that feels very modern. Check out how he handled the distant hills. They're simplified, almost geometric, which reminds me a bit of Cézanne, but with a Canadian twist. There's a real dialogue going on here. Ultimately, it lands as a perfect example of how art is always in conversation, building on what's come before and pushing it in new directions. It’s open to the sky, to the world.