Golden Autumn, Laurentians 1921

Clarence Gagnon made this painting of the Laurentians during the Golden Autumn with, what looks like, a whole lotta pastels. The way Gagnon layers these marks really tickles my fancy. Look at that hillside, right, how it melts from warm yellow to a deep, moody blue. It's like he's not just painting what he sees, but also how he feels it. I can almost smell that crisp autumn air, you know? And those trees! They're practically dancing, all skinny and wiggly. Especially that birch in the center. It's so simple, yet so full of life. This piece reminds me a bit of the Fauvist painters, like Derain or Vlaminck, with their wild colors and bold strokes. But Gagnon brings his own distinct Canadian flavor to the mix. It’s all about this constant exchange, where artists riff off each other, creating something new and exciting. Art, at its best, embraces all these different viewpoints.