Explore A.J. Casson’s Charm of Small-Town Ontario

Happy birthday to A.J. Casson!

In celebration of Canadian artist A.J. Casson’s birthday (May 17) the McMichael Canadian Collection spotlighted 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯, “a richly detailed watercolour that captures the charm of small-town Ontario.”

Born in Toronto in 1898, Casson grew up in Guelph and Hamilton before returning to the city, where he began art classes and worked as a commercial designer at just 15. Under the mentorship of Franklin Carmichael—who later invited him to join the Group of Seven—Casson refined his signature style.

Casson and Carmichael shared a love for watercolour, a medium that allowed them to express subtle light and fine detail. Casson often painted the towns of his youth, carefully placing people and animals to suggest lived-in spaces. How many figures can you spot in this scene?

Casson’s works serve as a visual record of a changing Ontario—capturing a way of life that was rapidly disappearing.

 A.J. Casson, 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯, c.1927, watercolour over graphite on paper, 46.9 x 62.3 cm. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. C.A.G. Matthews, 1974.13.2