1st Tom Thomson stamps issued on this day.
For the first time in Canadian Postal history, beloved painter Tom Thomson’s art appeared on stamps May 26, 1977.
Thomson was an integral part of the search for a unique Canadian art identity. Along with the Group of Seven and Emily Carr, Tom Thomson has had a significant impact on how we view Canada.
Tom Thomson (1877–1917) is one of the greatest artists Canada ever produced, yet much of his life remains shrouded in mystery. He began as an itinerant engraver and after several years emerged as a gifted and innovative painter. This transformation started in 1909, when he found himself surrounded by a group of talented and ambitious artists in Toronto. Although Thomson was older than most of them, he learned quickly and was soon setting an example that surpassed them all. His career as an artist lasted a scant five years, but his legacy enduresTom Thomson Life & Work by David P. Silcox BIOGRAPHY KEY WORKS SIGNIFICANCE &
Two stamps were released on May 26, 1977, the 100th anniversary of his birth.
“Autumn Birches” (1915) and “April in Algonquin Park” (1917) by Thomas John Thomson
Issued May 26, 1977
Autumn Birches, 1916
oil on panel
Gift of Mrs. H.P. de Pencier to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
“April in Algonquin Park” (1917)
Spring 1917
Oil on wood panel
Donated by Geo. Thomson to the Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery
[They] rejected European conventions to create a new visual language that reflected Canada’s rugged wilderness, expansive skies, and vibrant seasons.
Their work marked a turning point in Canadian art and national identity. Today, the members of the Group of Seven are celebrated as iconic artists whose paintings continue to embody a deep connection to nature and place.
McMichael Collection – The Group of Seven, Tom Thomson and their Contemporaries
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