La Cloche 1939

Franklin Carmichael made this landscape, called "La Cloche," using oil on board and painting with a real sense of touch. The way Carmichael lays down color is so great; notice how he makes the water with strokes of subtly different blues, or how the hills are built out of dark purples and grays that create a real sense of depth. Look at those little spots of green he dabs on the hillsides, like musical notes. Those touches of color really make the whole thing sing. You can tell this was made by somebody who really loves paint for what it is, for the actual physicality of applying it to a surface, not trying to pretend that it’s something else. The Group of Seven, who Carmichael was a founding member of, really embraced that idea. They paved the way for artists to just go ahead and *be* painters, and not worry about perfect representation.