A.J. CASSON – “YANTHA LAKE” & “FARM MADAWASKA”

A.J. Casson was born in Toronto but his family moved to Guelph when he was a young child, and then to Hamilton. At the age of 15, he worked as an apprentice at a local lithography company. When the family moved to Toronto, he attended night classes at Central Tech and received private lessons from Harry Britton where he learned about colour and how to use oils and watercolours. He then went to work for the Brigden brothers, George and Fred, as a commercial art/engraver. Fred Brigden, Franklin Carmichael and Casson would go on to form the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour in 1925.

In 1919, Casson was hired to work as an apprentice for Carmichael at Rous and Mann but the two eventually left and joined Sampson Matthews, Canada’s first silkscreen printing firm. He joined the Group of Seven at Carmichael’s invitation in 1926.

The 1940’s were an interesting transitional time for Casson. He was still working full time with Sampson Matthews. His painting time was restricted to after work hours, on the weekends and during vacation time. One of his favourite areas to go on sketch trip was Algonquin Park. Yantha Lake and the Madawaska region were examples of his preferred locations within the Park. Stylistically, Casson was moving away from the strong influence of the Group of Seven and producing his own style and compositions.