John Kasyn’s Backyard in Winter (1975) provides a thoughtful look into the urban landscapes the artist is celebrated for. Rendered in Kasyn’s characteristic style, the scene captures a snow-laden Toronto backyard, its modest architecture and bare winter trees presented with an honesty and simplicity that reflect Kasyn’s direct observational style. Kasyn’s deep affection for the city’s older neighbourhoods—particularly their houses, backyards, and laneways, resonates throughout the composition, inviting viewers into a moment of stillness and memory.

Kasyn’s technical skill and distinctive observational style were shaped by formal studies at the Winnipeg School of Art and later the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University), where he refined his draftsmanship and learned to express atmosphere through disciplined simplicity. Beyond his training, Kasyn became an influential figure within the Toronto art community through his many years of teaching at the Doone Academy and the Art Gallery of Ontario. His commitment to nurturing young artists enriched his own practice, reinforcing the balance of structure and intimacy that defines his work.

During the mid-1970s, when Backyard in Winter was created, the Canadian art scene was marked by a dynamic interplay between rising abstraction and a growing resurgence of representational painting. In Toronto, the influential legacy of Painters Eleven continued to shape modernist thinking, while realist artists were simultaneously gaining recognition for documenting neighbourhoods undergoing rapid urban change. Artists like Albert Franck had established a valued tradition of depicting back lanes, weathered houses, and everyday city spaces—an approach that resonated deeply with audiences seeking authenticity and connection. Kasyn’s dedication to these intimate architectural subjects positioned him within this representational movement, offering a thoughtful, grounded counterpoint to the dominant abstract currents of the time.