Group of Seven Aluminum Framed Print - SUNSET IN THE BUSH, 1918 - Frank Johnston

SUNSET IN THE BUSH is reproduced with copyright permission. Therefore the colours are as true as possible to the original, and the image is not cropped from the originals relative size. Professionally matted and framed with archival materials in a light grey aluminum frame with linen-textured mat.

Image size: 8 1/4" x 10 1/8". Framed size: 12 1/2" x 15" Available for local delivery only in Cambridge, Stratford, and surrounding areas. No shipping is available.

The Artist: Frank (Franz) Johnston (1888-1949), born Francis Hans, commonly went by 'Frank' and later in life 'Franz'. Johnston was born in Toronto, where he continued to live and work for most of his life. Johnston met many of the other Group of Seven members while working as a commercial artist for the company Grip Ltd. Johnston's colleagues organized weekend painting trips via boxcar, traversing the Canadian countryside. Johnston's coworkers included J.E.H. Johnston, Tom Thomson, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley and Franklin Carmichael. Other Group of seven members met through Toronto's Arts and Letters Club.

A lover of nature, Johnston would take trips Algonquin Park and Lake Superior. Once he became a member of the Group of Seven, Johnston almost always participated in the trips to Algoma. Unlike the other Group of Seven painters who used oil or watercolor paints, Johnston used tempera and therefore his style was less post-impressionistic and more decorative. Johnston only exhibited in the first Group of Seven show in 1920 at the Art Gallery of Toronto.

By 1921, Johnston left Toronto for a principal position at the Winnipeg School of Art. It was not until 1924 the Johnston officially left the Group of Seven, preferring to work and exhibit independently. Over time Johnston became less fine art orientated and concentrated on making decorative pieces for department stores. Johnston's aesthetic proved to be financially profitable, as he sold his paintings with great frequency. During the late 1920s Johnston returned to Toronto where he taught at the Ontario College of Art. Johnston remained in Toronto until the end of his life.