“The Church Masham”

Born in Belgium and settled in Ottawa at the age of 14, Henri Masson is a self-taught painter whose work occupies a unique place in 20th-century Canadian art.

Masson’s thinking is dominated by a rejection of static or purely decorative art. For him, aesthetics must be alive. He was less interested in wild, deserted nature than in the way people inhabit the landscape. His gaze is that of an empathetic observer, seeking to capture the energy, movement, and sometimes humor of street scenes, hockey players, or port activities.

His compositions are often marked by broken lines and dynamic perspectives that give the impression the subject is in the midst of action. He uses bold colors and dramatic light contrasts to accentuate the atmosphere of the scenes, whether they are winter landscapes or bustling interiors.

Although famous for his oil paintings, he was a master of watercolour and drawing, media that perfectly suited his rapid execution and his desire to capture the moment.

His paintings from the late 1930s and 1940s are valuable records of working-class life and community life in Canada.

His paintings are part of the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Tate Gallery in London, confirming his significance on the international scene.