Above Lake Superior 1922

Lawren Harris made "Above Lake Superior" using oil on canvas, but when? The date has been lost to time. I love how Harris simplifies nature, almost abstracting it, but still keeping that feeling of being in a specific place. Look at how he uses color – those cool blues and purples of the mountain against the creamy whites and browns of the trees. It's a very restrained palette, but it creates a strong sense of atmosphere. The paint looks smooth, like he's carefully blended the colors together. There’s a flatness, a stillness, that's really compelling. My eye keeps getting drawn to the bare branches in the foreground. They're like little gestures, reaching out into the space. They remind me of Agnes Martin, how she used simple lines to create these incredibly meditative spaces. It's amazing how Harris uses such simple forms to convey so much about the landscape and about our relationship to it. It's a painting that invites you to slow down and really look.