John William Beatty was an important Canadian landscape painter and teacher associated with the early development of Canadian Impressionism. Born in Toronto, Beatty studied at the Central Ontario School of Art and later in Paris at the Académie Julian. He became a leading figure in Canadian art education through his teaching at the Ontario College of Art and his influence on younger artists, including members of the Group of Seven.

Woodlands (c. 1930) is an oil on panel painting measuring 8.375 x 10.5 inches, signed in the lower right. The work depicts a forest, where tall trees rise from a patch of sunlit grass, rendered with loose yet deliberate brushwork. Beatty’s handling of colour and light, hallmarks of his style, create depth within a compact composition. Like much of his work, this piece reflects his commitment to capturing the character of the Canadian landscape, especially the forests and wilderness of Ontario and Quebec.