James Edward Hervey MacDonald, J. E. H. MacDonald

J. E. H. MacDonald (James Edward Hervey MacDonald; 1873 – 1932) was an English-born artist, who moved to Canada as a child. He played a pivotal role in the development of a distinct national identity in Canadian art. MacDonald was a founding member of the Group of Seven, a collective of artists that asserted a uniquely Canadian identity that was deeply rooted in Modernism from early 20th-century Europe. His art style was primarily landscape painting, and he was known for his ability to capture the rugged wilderness of Canada. MacDonald’s technique involved the use of bold colours and thick, impasto brushstrokes, which became characteristic of the Group of Seven’s style. His work was not only influential in shaping Canadian art but also in encouraging his colleagues, including future artist Tom Thomson, to develop their skills as painters.