Alfred Joseph Casson, OC, RCA

(1898 – 1992)

A.J. Casson was the youngest member of the Group of Seven artists, joining the group in 1926, following the resignation of Frank Johnston who was one of the original members. Casson is best known for his depictions of Southern Ontario and Quebec using his signature limited palette.

A.J. Casson was born in Toronto and at age seventeen was apprenticed to a lithography company. He also started to take art lessons with Harry Britton. He then started to take evening classes in art at the Central Technical School. In 1919, Casson moved to the firm Rous and Mann, where he met and was influenced by Franklin Carmichael to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael and Casson both then moved to Sampson-Matthews, the first Canadian firm to use silkscreen printing. Casson worked there from 1926 to 1958. He became art director in 1932 and vice-president in 1946. All this time he continued to paint and to exhibit his work widely. He was an active member of the Group of Seven and exhibited in all of their shows. He helped to found both the Canadian Society of Painters of Watercolour in 1933 and also the Canadian Group of Painters, after the Group of Seven dissolved. In 1952, he was elected to the National Academy of Design. He developed a painting style using clean colours, background design and a limited palette. Lauren Harris had suggested that he approach his work using simplification, and the elimination of all nonessentials, and Casson followed Harris’ suggestions.

Casson’s prices have soared in recent years. Heffle sold a small oil (9 ½” x 11”) Pic Island, Lake Superior, for $481,250.00 in December 2021. On the Kilmar Road is a good example of this distinguished artist’s work.