Group of Seven National Historic Event
The Group of Seven was designated a national historic event in 1974.
Historical importance: first exhibited in 1920, Canadian landscape painters.
Commemorative plaque: 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, OntarioFootnote 1
The Group of Seven
Coming together in Toronto, Frank Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald and F.H. Varley set out to give Canada a truly national form of painting. Spurred on by an association with Tom Thomson (1877-1917), these artists sought inspiration initially in the rugged northern Ontario landscape. They later expanded their horizons, making all of Canada their territory. Their first exhibition as a group, in 1920, was controversial, but their bold style attracted attention to Canadian painting and eventually won an enthusiastic following.
![Commemorative bronze plaque installed on a brick wall](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-3.jpg)
![Poster of an art exhibition, showcasing a landscape with mountains and water](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-2.jpg)
© Library and Archives Canada / Acc. No. 1984-4-37
![A landscape painting hanging on a gallery wall](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-1.jpg)
© Parks Canada
![Black and white photo of a group of man seated at a table in a public space](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-6.jpg)
© F 1066 / Archives of Ontario / I0010313 / Public domain
![Poster of an art exhibition showcasing a landscape with mountains and water](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-7.jpg)
© Library and Archives Canada / R11274-0-6-E
![Post stamp featuring an art piece of a landscape](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-4.jpg)
© Library and Archives Canada / Canada Post Corporation / R169-5
![Post stamp featuring an art piece of a landscape](http://pcweb2.azureedge.net/-/media/WET4/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/events/groupe-sept-group-seven-5.jpg)
© Library and Archives Canada / Canada Post Corporation / R169-5
The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
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