Blue Lake: Sketch for "In the Northland"
Tom Thomson · 1915
Why it's great
A deep blue lake is surrounded by bright trees in a quick, colorful study. Tom Thomson made it as a first idea for his painting 'In the Northland.' The sketch is full of fresh, direct feeling. It shows how he worked outdoors, painting fast.
Where to see it
📍 National Gallery of CanadaOttawa, Canada
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Tom Thomson was born in Ontario and worked as a commercial artist in Toronto before devoting himself to painting. He spent his summers in Algonquin Park, making small colorful oil sketches of lakes, trees and skies. His friends who later formed the Group of Seven were inspired by him. He drowned in Canoe Lake in 1917, and his death is still a famous mystery.
