Lot 12: Bertram Richard Brooker 1888 - 1955 Canadian oil on board Abstract / Trees (verso)

Bertram Richard Brooker 1888 - 1955 Canadian oil on board Abstract / Trees (verso)
14 7/8 x 11 5/8 inches 37.8 x 29.5 centimeters Provenance:Acquired directly from the Artist by the present Private Collection, Vancouver Bertram Brooker was an accomplished artist and writer, with his greatest contribution being to the emergence and development of abstract art in Canada. His pioneering role cannot be underestimated, as in 1927 he was one of the first artists to exhibit non-objective art in Canada. Considering that the Group of Seven and representational landscapes dominated this period, this was revolutionary. However, Brooker did draw influence from Group member Lawren Harris, who was involved with theosophy. It was after Brooker and Harris's meeting at the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto that Brooker's work expanded, and he began to express spirituality through his art. Another stimulation for such development undoubtedly came from such works as Wassily Kandinsky's Über das Geistige in der Kunst (Concerning the Spiritual in Art). Kandinsky was concerned with the connection between abstract painting and music, an idea that would significantly shape Brooker's artistic development. Brooker's relationship with the Group of Seven was amicable in the year 1928 when he was asked to exhibit with them at their February showing. He would exhibit with the Group a total of three times - in 1928, 1930 and 1931 - but only showed abstractions during the first exhibition in 1928. In 1931, Brooker held a retrospective in Hart House at the University of Toronto in which only abstract paintings were shown, but this would be the last exhibition of his abstract oils for 16 years. The most prominent reason for this hiatus was that Canada was not yet ready for abstraction. Nevertheless, Brooker continued to paint, and also used his other creative strengths to remain active in the Toronto arts scene during this period. He was also a writer of both prose and poetry, and a reviewer of contemporary art and literature. Most notably, he received the first Governor General's Award for fiction in 1936 for his novel Think of the Earth. In the 1930s, Brooker became increasingly critical of the Group and was determined to forge his own path. His journey was at times tumultuous, but his beliefs in the need for a wider artistic perspective in Canada gave him the confidence and persistence to work beyond any artistic or social boundaries. Brooker was clearly a pioneer in every sense of the word, and these works from his studio are a rare display of the inner workings of this influential figure. The works featured in this auction encompass varied subject matter, and include abstracts, portraits and landscapes. Due to the wide range of subjects, we can determine that they were most likely developed during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Attention to detail is evident as each work is rendered with careful precision, thus emphasizing Brooker's distinct and striking stylized forms. These works are reflections of Brooker's personal perspective and contribution to the history of Canadian art, which only grows in relevance in contemporary times. Please note: this work is unframed.