Summer Scene, Baie-Saint-Paul 1912

Clarence Gagnon painted this summer scene of Baie-Saint-Paul with oils, but the date of its making is unknown. Check out the intense blue; it's like the whole painting is dipped in it. Gagnon's application is smooth, almost blending the brushstrokes away, which gives the scene a dreamlike quality. It's not so much about what's there but how it feels. Notice how the dark, solid shapes of the trees on the left contrast with the soft focus of the distant town. It’s like a stage set, each layer carefully placed to create depth. The light catches the water in a way that makes it shimmer, almost vibrating with life. Gagnon's work reminds me of the early landscapes of Lawren Harris, with its simplified forms and emphasis on mood. Art is just this ongoing game of telephone, isn't it? Each artist borrowing, responding, and twisting what came before.