An exceptional mid-century landscape by A.J. Casson, this original oil on board captures the atmospheric stillness of Ontario’s Madawaska Valley. Titled “Frost and Fog, Madawaska” the work is a hallmark of Casson’s mature style, characterized by a sophisticated interplay of light and geometric form. The composition features a cluster of gabled rural buildings rendered with the rhythmic, structured brushwork that defined his celebrated “Village Pattern” series. Shifting planes of cool grays and muted greens effectively evoke the heavy morning mist clinging to the rugged hillside, distilling the Canadian wilderness into a moment of serene clarity. This specific scene reflects the artist’s deep lifelong affinity for the quiet, untamed corners of the Madawaska region, preserved with the care and reverence befitting a masterpiece of its era.

Distinguished by its exceptional and unbroken provenance, this work has remained within the private collection of a single family since its initial acquisition from the historic Roberts Gallery in the mid-1950s. It has been cherished for over seven decades, remaining entirely off the market and unseen by the public since its original purchase. Such a documented, “fresh-to-market” history is a rare find for collectors, providing a direct link back to the peak of Casson’s career.

As the youngest member of the Group of Seven, Casson (1898–1992) was a master of distilling the rural Ontario landscape into clean, design-forward compositions. Casson served as President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the Ontario Society of Artists, receiving the Order of Canada in 1978. Today, his work is held in major public institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario, and he remains one of the most beloved and collectible figures in Canadian art history.