Study for Northern River
Tom Thomson · 1914
Why it's great
Tom Thomson made this quick sketch for a larger painting of a river in northern Ontario, with rocks and trees in bold color. Thomson was a Canadian painter who spent summers canoeing in Algonquin Park, painting small oil sketches on wooden panels. His fresh, colorful style inspired the Group of Seven. It's a peek at how he began a painting.
Where to see it
📍 Art Gallery of OntarioToronto, 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.
