Ragged Skyline by Arthur Lismer depicts a rugged landscape of hills and ridges using watercolor combined with gouache on paper. Lismer employs a combination of transparent watercolor washes and opaque gouache highlights on paper to build the composition. The watercolor provides a soft, diffused background, while gouache adds texture and solid form to the hills and ridges. This work reflects Lismer’s continued interest in the Canadian wilderness and his exploration of landscape through simplified shapes and dynamic composition. As a founding member of the Group of Seven, Lismer played a key role in shaping Canadian landscape painting in the early 20th century.
This mixed media on paper measures 11.5 x 14 inches, is protected by museum glass, is signed on the bottom right and dated on the bottom left.