The Interwar Years: Boom & Bust · Term 2

Art & Culture: The Group of Seven

Exploring how the Group of Seven shaped a unique Canadian landscape identity through art.

About This Topic

Prohibition, the legal ban on the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol, was a major social experiment in early 20th-century Canada. This topic examines the roots of the temperance movement, which was largely led by women's groups who saw alcohol as the cause of poverty and family breakdown. Students explore how the 'dry' movement gained momentum during WWI as a patriotic measure to save grain and money for the war effort.

However, the curriculum also covers the failure of prohibition and the rise of 'rum-running.' Students investigate how Canada's proximity to a 'dry' United States led to a massive illegal trade and how this impacted Canada-US relations. This topic benefits from analyzing the arguments for and against prohibition and investigating the role of organized crime. Students grasp the reasons for the eventual shift to government-controlled liquor sales faster through structured discussion and by role playing the different perspectives of the era.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how the Group of Seven's artistic techniques and subject matter contributed to a distinct Canadian visual identity.
• Critique the extent to which the Group of Seven's landscapes accurately represented the diversity of the Canadian environment and its people.
• Evaluate the Group of Seven's impact on the development of national art institutions and the perception of Canadian culture domestically and internationally.
• Synthesize information from various sources to construct an argument about the Group of Seven's role in shaping Canada's self-image during the interwar period.

Before You Start

Introduction to Canadian Art History

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of artistic movements and styles prior to the Group of Seven to contextualize their innovations.

Canadian Geography: Regions and Resources

Why: Familiarity with Canada's diverse geographical features is essential for analyzing how the Group of Seven depicted specific landscapes.

The Rise of Canadian Nationalism (Early 20th Century)

Why: Understanding the broader context of developing national identity helps students grasp the significance of the Group of Seven's artistic contributions to that narrative.

Key Vocabulary

Canadian landscape painting	A genre of art focused on depicting the natural scenery of Canada, often emphasizing its vastness, ruggedness, and unique light.
National identity	A sense of belonging to one nation, characterized by shared culture, history, values, and often a distinct territory.
Modernism	An artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a rejection of traditional styles and an embrace of experimentation and new forms.
Post-Impressionism	A diverse style of painting that emerged in France in the late 19th century, reacting against Impressionism by emphasizing symbolic content, formal order, and personal expression.

Active Learning Ideas

Formal Debate: The 'Wet' vs. 'Dry' Debate

Divide the class into two sides: the Women's Christian Temperance Union (pro-prohibition) and the 'Moderation League' (anti-prohibition). They must debate the social and economic impacts of banning alcohol using arguments from the 1920s.

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

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Inquiry Circle: Rum-Running and the Border

In small groups, students use maps and 'incident reports' to investigate how alcohol was smuggled from Canada into the US. They identify the key routes, the methods used by bootleggers, and the challenges faced by border officials.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: Why Did Prohibition Fail?

Students read a list of reasons for the failure of prohibition (e.g., lack of public support, rise of crime, loss of tax revenue). They discuss with a partner which factor they think was the most significant in the government's decision to end the ban.

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario, houses an extensive collection of Group of Seven works and is a key institution for understanding their legacy in Canadian art history.

Canadian currency, such as the Canadian $10 bill, has featured artwork inspired by or directly related to the Group of Seven's depictions of the Canadian landscape, reflecting their enduring national significance.

Art historians and curators at major Canadian galleries, like the National Gallery of Canada, continue to research, exhibit, and interpret the Group of Seven's contributions, influencing public understanding of Canadian art and identity.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Prohibition was a single law that applied to all of Canada at once.

What to Teach Instead

Prohibition was mostly a provincial matter, and different provinces went 'dry' and 'wet' at different times. Using a 'provincial timeline' activity helps students see the regional differences in how prohibition was implemented and ended.

Common Misconception

Prohibition was only about 'morality.'

What to Teach Instead

While morality was a factor, it was also tied to wartime efficiency, women's rights, and public health. Peer discussion about the 'multiple motivations' for prohibition helps students see it as a complex social and political issue.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'In what ways did the Group of Seven's focus on specific regions of Canada (like Algonquin Park or the Canadian Shield) potentially limit or shape the perception of the 'Canadian landscape' for people living in other parts of the country?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to support their points with visual evidence from the paintings.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write down one specific artistic element (e.g., use of color, brushstroke, composition) used by the Group of Seven and explain how it contributed to their unique vision of the Canadian landscape. Then, have them write one sentence about a potential critique of their work regarding representation.

Quick Check

Present students with two different landscape paintings: one by the Group of Seven and one by a contemporary Canadian artist. Ask students to identify at least two key differences in their approach to depicting the landscape and briefly explain what these differences suggest about evolving Canadian identity or artistic movements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was prohibition introduced in Canada?

It was driven by the temperance movement, which argued that alcohol caused social problems like poverty and domestic violence. During WWI, it was also promoted as a way to save resources for the war effort and to improve the productivity of workers.

What was 'rum-running'?

Rum-running was the illegal smuggling of alcohol from Canada (where it was often legal to produce) into the United States (which was 'dry' under federal law). This created a massive and often violent black market along the border.

Why did prohibition eventually end in Canada?

It proved difficult to enforce, led to a rise in organized crime, and deprived governments of much-needed tax revenue. Most provinces eventually replaced prohibition with government-controlled liquor boards to regulate and tax the sale of alcohol.

How can active learning help students understand prohibition?

Active learning strategies, such as debating the 'wet' and 'dry' arguments and investigating rum-running, help students understand the social tensions and the unintended consequences of the era. By engaging with the different perspectives, students move beyond a 'right or wrong' view of the law to see it as a reflection of the values and challenges of the time. This hands-on approach makes the study of social reform more engaging and relevant.