In 1925, the Art Association of Montreal held a memorial exhibition celebrating the life and work of Canadian painter Helen McNicoll. Featuring over 120 pieces, this major exhibition showcased the full breadth of her artistic practice. Now, a century later, the Art Gallery of Hamilton proudly presents Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey—the most comprehensive solo exhibition of her work since 1925.
Helen McNicoll is one of Canada’s most significant historical artists. As an early adopter of Impressionism, she carved an individual and avant-garde path in both Canada and abroad, making a name for herself on the world stage. McNicoll’s art was widely celebrated during her lifetime. Critics praised the masterful treatment of light in her paintings, and the immersive nature of her subjects. Despite her brief career, McNicoll greatly increased the recognition of Québec and Canadian art on both sides of the Atlantic.
IMAGE CREDIT: Helen McNicoll, The Apple Gatherer (detail), c. 1911, oil on canvas. Gift of G. C. Mutch, Esq., in memory of his mother, Annie Elizabeth Mutch, 1957 © Art Gallery of Hamilton. Photo: Robert McNair, 2014.
