Laurentian Village 1925

Clarence Gagnon made this painting of a Laurentian Village with oil on board. I love how the brown of the board seeps through, informing all the colours. Gagnon seems to have loved the process of artmaking, letting the materials guide him. Look at the surface texture and how the paint isn't trying to hide; it's thin in places, thick in others, transparent, and opaque all at once. It feels like a raw and honest portrayal of the subject. Notice how the brushstrokes create a sense of movement and energy, especially in the snow-covered ground. It’s as if the town is vibrating with life, even under a blanket of snow. The bridge seems like a direct and simple route into the painting. It reminds me a little of some of the early Fauvist painters, like Vlaminck. Gagnon has been quoted as saying that ‘Art should not try to imitate nature but to express it’, which I think is very true of this piece. It shows how art can be about exploring different ways of seeing and thinking.