Clarence Gagnon’s Cheval et Traîneau is a spare, intimate drawing that centres on a sturdy workhorse standing in profile, harnessed to a lightly sketched sleigh behind it.

Born in Montreal in 1881, Gagnon showed artistic promise at an early age and pursued formal training at the Art Association of Montreal, where he studied under William Brymner and Edmond Dyonnet. In 1903, he received a government scholarship to continue his studies in Paris at the Académie Julian, working under Jean-Paul Laurens. During this period, he absorbed the influence of French Impressionism, particularly its emphasis on light and colour, which would become defining elements of his mature style.

After returning to Canada in 1908, Gagnon settled for a time in the Charlevoix region, particularly around Baie-Saint-Paul, where he found lasting inspiration in the landscapes and daily life of rural Quebec. His paintings from this period often depict snow-covered villages, winding roads, and figures engaged in everyday activities, rendered with a balance of observation and poetic interpretation. 

Gagnon’s work achieved widespread recognition during his lifetime, with exhibitions held across Canada, Europe, and the United States. He was elected a full member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1922 and received honours such as the Trevor Prize from the Salmagundi Club in 1923. In addition to painting, he contributed to the promotion of Canadian art through teaching and illustration, further extending his influence.

Today, Clarence Gagnon is regarded as one of the leading figures of Canadian Impressionism.