Painter, illustrator, and etcher, Clarence Alphonse Gagnon is credited as being one of the major figures in the development of Canadian modern art. His paintings are known for their strong color, luminous* qualities and styles incorporating Realism* and Impressionism*. He also spent much of his career in France, and throughout his productive painting life was back and forth between the two countries.

Gagnon was born in Montreal, Canada, November 8, 1881. He studied at the Art Association of Montreal, beginning when he was age 16, with William Brymner from 1897-1900. From Brymner he learned about sketching and drawing directly from nature.

In 1904, Gagnon went to Paris where he set up a p...