River of Dreams
Impressionism on the St. Lawrence
River of Dreams celebrates the unique ways that Impressionism was practised by artists in Quebec, offering a close look at the work of such luminaries as Clarence Gagnon, Henrietta Mabel May, James Wilson Morrice, and Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté. These artists documented the shoreline of the St. Lawrence and its surrounding regions, from Montréal downriver to Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Arthabaska, Québec, Beaupré, and Charlevoix.
The Quebec Impressionists were painting at a time of considerable industrial and social change in Quebec, and their choices about what to paint proved pivotal in cementing an image of the province as a site of both industry and leisure — whether in scenes of the industrial port of Montréal, or others capturing the traditional rural way of life in small villages.
Featuring a lead essay by curator Anne-Marie Bouchard; reflections on individual painters by leading artists, curators, and scholars; and more than 175 full-colour images (including reproductions of more than 100 paintings; examples of textiles, pottery, and Indigenous trade goods of the period; and archival photographs), River of Dreams is a magnificent tribute to a movement that shaped Canadian art.
Available format(s)
“These essays are not only informative but also deeply engaging, making me feel like I was part of a rich, multi-faceted exploration of Quebec Impressionism. I found myself getting lost in the stories, gaining a newfound appreciation for the artistic and historical significance of this movement. Visually, the book is a pure delight. Each page felt like a treasure trove, offering high-quality reproductions not just of paintings but also textiles, pottery, Indigenous trade goods, and archival photographs. These aren’t just illustrations; they’re vivid portals into the past, drawing me deeper into the Quebecois artistic heritage.” — Canadian Art Daily Newsletter
Anne-Marie Bouchard is a curator based in Quebec City who specializes in Quebec art. At the usée national des beaux-arts du Québec she curated numerous exhibitions, among them A Private Passion: Modern Art in Québec from the Pierre Lassonde Collection, and 350 Years of Art Practice in Québec.
Sarah Milroy is Executive Director and Chief Curator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. A highly respected art writer and exhibition curator, she has contributed to more than a dozen books on art, including Generations: The Sobey Family & Canadian Art, A Like Vision: The Group of Seven & Tom Thomson, and From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia.
